View allAll Photos Tagged wowfactor
How's this for a 'des res'? - with a backdrop of Thomas Telford's 1826 Menai Suspension Bridge which spans the Menai Strait between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales.
Doubtless, many people will have photographed the same scene over the years. But I have to credit having seen the composition in the Oriel Glyn Davies Gallery window in the town of Menai Bridge as my inspiration. However, the capture and the processing were down to me entirely.
Conditions weren't ideal as I was photographing against the hazy, mid-morning sunlight; however, beggars can't be choosers as I only had a few days to spare on Anglesey. The photo is a time-blend of two files. I made the first exposure at 25 seconds to smooth out the water, but the foliage was waving around so much in the wind that it all looked a bit messy. So I made a second exposure, this time at 1/10th sec, to correct the problem. Then, in post-processing, I imported both files as layers into Photoshop and 'brushed' in the water for the final presentation.
I'm chuffed with the outcome, while monochrome gives it a "wow" factor.
I have never seen more spectacular light than this! In addition to the amazing light a cormorant landed on top of a pole. This why you always want to carry your camera with you.
These two ducks looked like they were swimming in waters of gold!!! This was actually the reflection of
the beautiful yellow autumn leaves on the trees above ... the WOW factor from Mother Nature!!!
(Best viewed on black)
An approximately ~10-story (~150 ft. or ~50m) building located near the US highway (US 281) just a few miles north of the downtown metro area of San Antonio, Texas, USA displays a Christmas tree of immense proportions annually during every holiday season. The tree consists of many long strands of LED lights that stretch from where they are staked into the ground at the base of the building all the way up to a pinnacle point near the very top of the multistory building.
I purposely defocused my lens to bring out the color of the lights in smooth and silky bokeh, but I didn't quite expect my exposure to capture the reflection of the Christmas tree in the windows of the building itself. The reflection of the lights came out amazing and surprised me when I discovered them after reviewing the photo on my computer.
Standing in front of the building brings the scale of the Christmas tree into focus and provided me an amazing holiday experience to photograph, but the essence of the tree and its size can bee seen for quite some distance for everyone that drives on the heavily traveled road.
AMAZING when viewed in LIGHTBOX!!!!!
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Believe it or not but this old gentleman is 22 years old and still up and running ! He lives in Hässelby, a suburban to Stockholm in Sweden
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News from summer 2011...Kotte has passed away, he is in cats heaven now.
He was 23 years old, a well respected age for a cat anyhow.
Bless his soul !
Do you love minimalism in architecture? Yes? No? Either way, you have to see this home which the architect calls “minimum to the max”. Is it really? You will have to decide it for yourself.
Let’s see a few facts about the project. The BSSR House. This is the name of the “Minimum to the max” house. Architect behind the project is Dutch architect Huib van Wijk. As you can already guess, the house is built in the Netherlands, back in 2010. Huib van Wijk designed this minimalist house for me and my family. The house has an abstract art gallery and a studio.
What would general public say about it? I believe 95% of people would say they would never live in a minimalist house like this. And this is exactly what makes it so special and different from other homes.
So, now I would like to hear what you think about this minimalist house. Would you live there? Would you feel comfortable? Let me know.
Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit experience and the last effort of genius.
Minimalism - or, as the sculptor Donald Judd preferred to put it, is the simple expression of complex thought.
Minimalism or voluntary simplicity is certainly not new. In fact, it has been practiced and encouraged for thousands of years, literally. Just consider the following men and women who have advocated for a lifestyle of minimalism. To place emphasis on the history of the movement, they have been arranged chronologically by author’s birth year.
Minimalism Quotes
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1954. Sandra Cisneros. “But I deal with this by meditating and by understanding I’ve been put on the planet to serve humanity. I have to remind myself to live simply and not overindulge, which is a constant battle in a material world.”
1948. Jackie French Koller. “There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.”
1947. Linda Breen Pierce. “Simplicity involves unburdening your life, and living more lightly with fewer distractions that interfere with a high quality life, as defined uniquely by each individual.”
1943. Tenzin Palmo. “One of the advantages of being born in an affluent society is that if one has any intelligence at all, one will realize that having more and more won’t solve the problem, and happiness does not lie in possessions, or even relationships: The answer lies within ourselves. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from the outside.”
1940s. Duane Elgin. “The intention of voluntary simplicity is not to dogmatically live with less. It’s a more demanding intention of living with balance. This is a middle way that moves between the extremes of poverty and indulgence.”
1940s. Richard Foster. “We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy.”
1940. Doris Janzen Longacre. “The trouble with simple living is that, though it can be joyful, rich, and creative, it isn’t simple.”
1936. Tom Robbins. “Any half-awake materialist well knows – that which you hold holds you.”
1936. Richard Bach. “The simplest things are often the truest.”
1935. Harold Kushner. “Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth, or power. Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter.”
1935. The Dalai Lama. “If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements.”
1926. Thich Nhat Hanh. “Smile, breathe and go slowly.”
1920. Elise Boulding. “The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.”
1918. Vernon Howard. “You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.”
1911. E.F. Schumacher. “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.”
1900. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
1899. Edwin Way Teale. “Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.”
1895. Lin Yutang. “Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.”
1886. Mies Van Der Rohe. “Less is more.”
1879. Albert Einstein. “Make things as simple as possible but no simpler.”
1879. Will Rogers. “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”
1879. Katharine Fullerton Gerould. “Simplicity is an acquired taste. Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life.”
1876. Francis Jourdain. “One can furnish a room very luxuriously by taking out furniture rather than putting it in.”
1872. Bertrand Russell. “It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.”
1836. Anna C. Brackett. “We go on multiplying our conveniences only to multiply our cares. We increase our possessions only to the enlargement of our anxieties.”
1834. William Morris. “Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
1834. Charles Spurgeon. “You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”
1828. Leo Tolstoy. “There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.”
1817. Henry David Thoreau. “Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Things do not change, we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.”
1817. Baha’u’llah. “Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge.”
1813. Henry Ward Beecher. “It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.”
1804. George Sand. “Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit experience and the last effort of genius.”
1783. Joseph Brotherton. “My riches consist, not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.”
1774. Elizabeth Ann Seton. “Live simply so that others may simply live.”
1771. Hosea Ballou. “Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.”
1562. Lope de Vega. “With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy.”
1452. Leonardo da Vinci. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
1380. Thomas a Kempis. “Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.”
864. Wu-Men. “If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, then this is the best season of your life.”
570. Muhammed. “Poverty is my pride.”
330. Saint Basil. “If one had taken what is necessary to cover one’s needs and had left the rest to those who are in need, no one would be rich, no one would be poor, no one would be in need.”
55. Epictetus. “Contentment comes not so much from great wealth as from few wants.”
—
1 BCE. Seneca. “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
5 BCE. Jesus Christ. “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.”
6 BCE. John the Baptist. “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
341 BCE. Epicurus. “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.”
469 BCE. Socrates. “The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”
500 BCE. Lao Tzu. “Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
551 BCE. Confucious. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
563 BCE. Buddha. “To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.”
Inside Lisbon’s MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology), this soaring oval gallery immerses visitors in a contemporary photography exhibit. The curved white walls cradle black-and-white and color works, displayed in glowing frames that draw the eye down the dramatic corridor. The overhead grid of linear lighting and exposed ceiling structure enhances the modern, industrial aesthetic. Subdued and spacious, the room invites quiet contemplation, while visitors casually stroll or pause to admire the details. As one of MAAT’s signature interior spaces, this architectural marvel embodies Lisbon’s vibrant fusion of cultural heritage and cutting-edge design in the Belém riverside district.
The Sandhill Cranes migrate near the farm town of Othello every March. My friend and I wisely go the week before the town's big festival so we can have them 'all to ourselves'. At dawn the cranes take off to feed in the cornfields, returning at dusk to the water. This image was captured as the sun broke over the hills, casting magical light on the cranes and permeating the low-lying fog. It took my breath away.
you know the score by now... driving home, past arran... etc. Just can't help stopping, especially now that the extra hour gives me a chance at some daylight
I have never seen more spectacular light than this! In addition to the amazing light a cormorant landed on top of a pole. This why you always want to carry your camera with you.
This hauntingly minimal photograph captures a layered, abstract architectural scene from an exhibit inside MAAT Lisbon. Weathered concrete panels, exposed studs, and sections of plywood form a quiet composition that blurs the line between construction and deconstruction. Warm wood tones contrast starkly against cool slate grays, evoking the rhythm of geometry and decay. It’s a meditation on negative space, urban erosion, and the poetics of unfinished environments. The piece compels viewers to question what is being built—or what has been left behind. Displayed with reverent simplicity at MAAT, this work invites introspection through the language of line, shadow, and raw material.
I have never seen more spectacular light than this! In addition to the amazing light a cormorant landed on top of a pole. This why you always want to carry your camera with you.
Prototype for the Dardick Model 1100 Pistol
I found this recently at a swap meet in Marlborough, Massachusetts. I had seen one before, in somewhat better condition, but this unit is special. It's a prototype, and the 5 painted on the grip is its serial number. I'd love to have bought it for the collector value, but I don't have $1,500.00 U$D to tie up in a single collectible item.
The fellow standing next to me thought it might be some sort of pneumatic tool. Someone else opined that it was a drill designed to install finishing screws; the blade above the barrel was for centering the fastener in the work surface. Both suggestions are way off the mark; after all, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Anyone know the name of the designer/manufacturer? I know that he was the uncle of one of my previous physicians.
______________________________
This is a rare prototype for the Dardick Model 1100 Pistol, a true automatic revolver. David Dardick was a Connecticut engineer and inventor in the mid-20th Century. Dardick had worked on projects with with Melvin Maynard Johnson Jr., the inventor of the (only modestly successful) U.S. Model 1941 Johnson Rifle and its derivative, the M41 Machine Gun. In turn, Johnson helped Dardick with some of the pistol's early design considerations. In the early 1950s, Dardick conceived of the idea of a firearm that combined elements of both revolvers and self-loading or semi-automatic pistols. Between 1954 and 1960, Dardick manufactured his pistols at his factory in Hamden, Connecticut.
The gun is loaded by inserting a 'stripper' device with a number of cartridges in the hinged door above the grip. The cartridges are pushed into the gun's magazine, and the door is closed. A spring feeds the rounds into a simplified cylinder with three chambers machined into the outer surface instead of being bored through, and as the cylinder rotates, it strips rounds off the magazine and aligns them with the barrel. Spent cartridges are ejected through another opening in the right side of the gun.
The first commercial Dardicks were made in .38 caliber. The cartridge or "tround" was a triangular (or trochoidal), two-part aluminum case with a recessed bullet. Reusable plastic cases of Celanese 'Fortiflex' were also available to convert conventional cartridges; these far outnumber the metal trounds, and as of this writing, I have never seen a metal tround. It had a custom primer, but the powder and bullet were conventional enough to allow home reloading. I purchased a single tround a few years ago. If there is any interest, I'll dig it out and use it to test my new macro lens.
The Dardick Pistol was sold with either a 3" or a 6" barrel. A 15-round version of the Dardick pistol was also available commercially for a time, and while a 20-round model was announced, I haven't seen solid evidence that it saw production. There were variations available, such as a .22 caliber conversion – the 15-round Model 1500 'Switch Hitter' came with the spare barrel, the only part required for the conversion -- and a butt-stock and barrel assembly to convert the pistol into a carbine was a less popular option. Other calibers such as .30 and .50 were also developed for military use, and Dardick designed heavy-duty units for rock boring and clearing ceramic kilns.
Even with the smooth aluminum alloy panels replaced with checkered grips in the production models, the Dardick was heavy and ungainly. It had poor balance and its bulkiness made it unsuitable for holster carry. Dardick wanted to sell the rights to the design and get on with the business designing new technology. To that end, he stopped production of the slow-selling firearms in 1960, although stock remained for two more years. Dardick sold the manufacturing rights to Numrich Arms in 1962, but the Numrich guns were problem-ridden and they only ever made about 40 or 50 units.
With almost sixty years of hindsight, we can say today that it answered a question no one was asking, but in its day it generated enough 'wow' factor to engage the attention of the August, 1957 Mechanix Illustrated. Like the Neanderthal or the Irish Elk, it was an evolutionary dead end. That said, in its day, it got people thinking, and perhaps someday, it will inspire a solution to a real problem.
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NOTICE: If you don't like guns, that's fine. I accept responsible opposing viewpoints; but if you get rude about posting anti-gun propaganda on my photos, it will only get you blocked from my photostream permanently. Dissension is Free Speech; haranguing and harassing violates my rights.
Little Amal wows the crowd in front of the steps of Liverpool Museum of Life, Pier Head, Liverpool City Centre.
I have never seen more spectacular light than this! In addition to the amazing light a cormorant landed on top of a pole. This why you always want to carry your camera with you.
The lobby of Hotel Ludovice in Lisbon effortlessly channels the spirit of Portuguese sophistication and grandeur. Housed in a former 18th-century palace, this boutique hotel pays homage to its baroque roots while embracing modern luxury. A regal portrait of João Frederico Ludovice, the architect of nearby Palácio Nacional de Mafra, commands attention above a warm-lit cabinet of curated curios. Golden botanical chandeliers shimmer against textured stone walls, while lush greenery and elegant furnishings invite guests to relax. The ambiance is both intimate and opulent—perfectly reflecting the cultural richness and stylistic flair that define Hotel Ludovice and the city of Lisbon itself.
#Repost @buletters with @repostapp captured by @kunaphotography ・・・ One more sleep to our fantastic Diner En Blanc 👕⚱⭐ #eventdecor #weddingdecor #uniquedesign #eventrentals #deb #debvan #dinerenblanc #corporateevents #events #partyideas #uniqueweddingdecor #lightupyourwedding #giantletters #weddingday #loveit #weddings #buletters #marqueelettersvancouver #marqueeletters #lightupletters #bookings #loveletters #events2016 #eventinstyle #wowfactor #giantletters #bc #lightupyourevent #kunaphotography
Don't shop on the Internet for your shoes and boots - get yourself to Scorpio in Durham - You Know You Want To!
Marloes while working as hostess/organizer/photographer on a special occassion in our town hall.
Marloes ontvangt de gasten van een debat in het gemeentehuis van Sint-Katelijne-Waver, tijdens de "Groenteweek" met Frank Fol in maart
Looking up @ the Atrium, from Liverpool Central Library's ground floor. £50 million has been spent on a total refurbishment and having seen the results (for the first time today), I'd say it was money well spent.
liverpool.gov.uk/libraries/find-a-library/central-library...
Suspended in stillness yet brimming with energy, this wire sculpture by Ruth Asawa feels like it might exhale at any moment. Its radiating loops, painstakingly formed by hand, seem to pulse outward like the branches of a tree, the filaments of a seed pod, or even the alveoli of lungs. Up close, you can sense the hours of labor woven into every twist. Step back, and the piece transforms into a kind of mandala—delicate, fierce, and quietly monumental. It’s a work that doesn’t shout but lingers, inviting you to slow down, breathe, and simply be with its beautiful complexity.
I have never seen more spectacular light than this! In addition to the amazing light a cormorant landed on top of a pole. This why you always want to carry your camera with you.
Welcome to International Play Company (Iplayco)
Custom Themed Indoor Play Structures
We design, manufacture, ship and install Indoor Playground Equipment, Outdoor Playgrounds and Interactive Play Solutions worldwide.
Don’t Know Where to Start? Our experienced staff can help you do it all,
from design to installation.
MAKING INDOOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT STRUCTURES SAFE AND FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
TODDLER SPORT ARENAS
Perfect for a Sport Arena, Shopping Center, Recreation Center or Special Events
Let the toddler’s burn off energy. Only 15 minutes to set up and tear down. Your logo can be placed or find a sponsor. Made from durable vinyl and foam. Add to your soft indoor play business.
The “Toddler Sport Arena” has interchangeable floor pads, optional electronic targets, score board and crowd themed side panels. The boards and surface are broken into sections easily assembled and stored. Arenas available are Hockey, Soccer, Basketball and Football.
Indoor Playground Ideas by #Iplayco - At International Play Company (Iplayco) we design, manufacture and install indoor play structures for all ages. We install worldwide, meet all safety standards and belong to IAAPA, TEA, ICSC, IAAPI, IHRSA, RSA, ACM and more industry associations.
We design, manufacture, ship and install Indoor Playground Equipment, Outdoor Playgrounds and Interactive Play Solutions worldwide.
Don’t Know Where to Start?
Our experienced staff can help you do it all, from design to installation.
MAKING INDOOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT STRUCTURES
SAFE AND FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
At International Play Company (Iplayco) we design, manufacture, ship and install Indoor Playground Equipment, Outdoor Playgrounds and Interactive Play Solutions worldwide.
Don’t Know Where to Start? Our experienced staff can help you do it all, from design to installation. Buy a 100% North American built playground, and receive the highest quality and most creative play structures available in the world when you choose IPLAYCO! Our equipment is designed and manufactured to meet all North American and International safety standards.
At Iplayco we are here to help you.
Family Entertainment Centers
Restaurants
Church Ministries
Theme parks
Museums, Zoos & Aquariums
Recreation & Fitness Centers
Hotel & Resorts & Casinos
Retail & Shopping Centers
Medical Offices & Hospitals
Children Centers
Anywhere that “Children Play”
We design, manufacture, ship and install Indoor Playground Equipment, Outdoor Playgrounds and Interactive Play Solutions worldwide.
Don’t Know Where to Start?
Our experienced staff can help you do it all, from design to installation.
MAKING INDOOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT STRUCTURES
SAFE AND FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
On my second visit to Britain and Europe, I visited the London Motor Fair, at which this incredible futuristic sports car was displayed.
Don't think it really took off, well the car probably did, but maybe not sales- I've not heard of one since.
Maybe something for Top Gear to have a chat about, if any remain.
At International Play Company (Iplayco) we design, manufacture, ship and install Indoor Playground Equipment, Outdoor Playgrounds and Interactive Play Solutions worldwide.
Don’t Know Where to Start? Our experienced staff can help you do it all, from design to installation. Buy a 100% North American built playground, and receive the highest quality and most creative play structures available in the world when you choose IPLAYCO! Our equipment is designed and manufactured to meet all North American and International safety standards.
At Iplayco we are here to help you.
Family Entertainment Centers
Restaurants
Church Ministries
Theme parks
Museums, Zoos & Aquariums
Recreation & Fitness Centers
Hotel & Resorts & Casinos
Retail & Shopping Centers
Medical Offices & Hospitals
Children Centers
Anywhere that “Children Play”
At International Play Company (Iplayco) we design, manufacture, ship and install Indoor Playground Equipment, Outdoor Playgrounds and Interactive Play Solutions worldwide.
Don’t Know Where to Start? Our experienced staff can help you do it all, from design to installation. Buy a 100% North American built playground, and receive the highest quality and most creative play structures available in the world when you choose IPLAYCO! Our equipment is designed and manufactured to meet all North American and International safety standards.
At Iplayco we are here to help you.
Family Entertainment Centers
Restaurants
Church Ministries
Theme parks
Museums, Zoos & Aquariums
Recreation & Fitness Centers
Hotel & Resorts & Casinos
Retail & Shopping Centers
Medical Offices & Hospitals
Children Centers
Anywhere that “Children Play”
Indoor Mini Golf Installation & Design - Entrance sign to an indoor mini golf course we installed at a family entertainment center.
Welcome to International Play Company (Iplayco)
Custom Themed Indoor Play Structures
We design, manufacture, ship and install Indoor Playground Equipment, Outdoor Playgrounds and Interactive Play Solutions worldwide.
Don’t Know Where to Start? Our experienced staff can help you do it all,
from design to installation.
MAKING INDOOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT STRUCTURES SAFE AND FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
More from the vaults. This was our trip to New York for Laura's birthday. For such a photogenic place I didn't get many great shots!
This is my favourite shot from the trip. It was probably the defining 'bright lights, big city' moment, and whilst I've got plenty of photos of Laura taking photos I can tell that she's smiling in this one - and that's rare when she's concentrating on a shot!
Oh, also, you'll notice some weird barrel distortion on some of the NY shots. A lot of it was taken with a 10-20mm wide angle lens that I borrowed from Dave, which proved very valuable when trying to get buildings in frame!