I always thought it interesting that male birds were the ones with the fancy colours to attract drab-coloured females, whereas with respect to homo sapiens it's the opposite.
Since you posted pictures of a Cardinal and Philadelphia, I'll top that with a picture of a Blue Jay for Toronto.
LOL. .Well, I certainly have. I was there and watched that happen, and it was the most exciting moment in sports I have ever experienced in my lifetime.
What that picture didn't say is that it was the bottom of the ninth, and one more strike would have meant that the Phillies would have won the World Series. But it was another example of "Life Imitates Art", because it is exactly what happened in the movie The Natural when Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) hit the bottom of the 9th home run into the lights when he had two strikes on him and his team was one or two runs down, two runners on base to win the pennant. That movie was released in 1984. It's eerie!!!
Oooops. Correction. One more strike on Carter would have meant the teams would tie at 3 wins each and the series would have been decided with a seventh game. But the victory was at home, and a seventh game would have given the Phillies home team advantage. The rest of the facts of the New York Knights game are still the same.
Love the beautiful Cardinal, a really clear and detailed shot, and the picture of Philly expressing its long history with upholding its fight against tyrants since 1776.
Thanks for sharing them, they are a great start to the second day of America's unbroken pledge of resistance to the threat of tyranny across our nation.
Such a beautiful sunset, and a perfect way to say goodbye to the horrible President America has ever had and his destructive regime for America, its people, its Democracy, and our allies.
I am so thankful that the American people can now renew their belief in our nation, and that our government truly is for and by the people.
I'm starting a new 16 gallon aquarium. Technically this is called an Iwagumi style. Iwagumi is Japanese for rock formation. This is made from stacked Dragon Stone or Ohko Stone, which isn't stone at all. It's a hard natural clay from Japan that forms air pockets to give it this unique look. I have more rock coming on Saturday to add more height to the structure. Some of the plants I'll use will come from other tanks. Some are on order - they were supposed to be here this week, but they were not in the box with the one plant that did come. The one plant that did come is called Bucephalandra Mini Catherinea which I'll place about the nooks and crevices of the rocks.
It will sit next to the other 16 gallon tank in the living room with the betta fish and cherry shrimp.
There are people who do more than one female betta together - called sororities. You need to get them all at one time, young and provide enough cover for them to hide if they need to.
Fun fact - I have my male betta trained to come during feeding when I tap the food container on the glass.
An update on the missing plants - In an email update from Customer Service they didn't find out why the other plants didn't go out, but they are sending out a replacement order and he said, "I'll make sure to make this order worth the wait!" so hopefully that will get here soon. I'll try to get a new photo up this weekend and another when the final plants are put in.
As with all hobbies I think it is satisfying, but I'd have to say I'm not sure how accomplished I am at it. Doing these "aquascapes" are fun and I seem to have a little talent. The hard part is keeping it all going - which seems, for me, to often result in lots of algae issues. I need to be better at consistency in feeding, fertilizing and cleaning the tanks as they mature.
No not his pets...the species in general. Never seen shrimp in an aquarium before... would not last long here they would be whopped on a barbie quick time..😀
Anoon..nah..not fussed with bugs..only go for prawns and crayfish. Actually you just saved me..I have just bought half a kilo of tiger prawns and left them in the car...crickey nothing worse than a bucket of prawns going off in the midday sun.. let alone inside a car....😣😣😣now in the fridge...tea tonight..😀🦐
I worked with a kid one time that hated most seafood. I asked him why he hated shrimp and he said, because they are nothing but cockroaches of the sea.
We refer to them as crayfish but the official name is Southern Rock Lobster and come in around 1 to 2 kilo. Our prawns are around 10 centimetres long especially King prawns but Tigers are second best...very tasty cockroaches..
These look quite appetizing, very similar to the way oysters are served dressed in their shells at a booth here. The top one I thnk I could withstand sampling.
Yes we have to look after one another..and thank you. Would have gone to get the prawns out for tea and....the smell in the car I would never have got rid of it.
It was a fairly warm sunny day today, 16 degrees centigrade, so we went for a walk and as I promised I took photos of the seafood booth that recently opened in our outside mall. Your Moreton Bay Bugs resemble the dressed fresh grilled oysters in their half shell. I took this photo of the booth:
Here are the oysters dressed, just a bit spicy, freshly grilled in their half shells - DELICIOUS. The cost? 4 for 10 yuan (i.e. = US$1.70)
And here are the scallops, dressed, just a bit spicy as well (remember that Chongqing is spicy hot-pot heaven) freshly grilled in their half shells - ALSO DELICIOUS. The cost? 5 for 15 yuan (i.e. = US$2.50). To hell with my gout, I LOVE those oysters and scallops. I don't know what the ones on the left are.
Ohhhh....now I 'm hungry! I love oysters on the half shell. There was a oyster bar on Canal St in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The deal is, if you find a pearl in the oyster you pick from the group of oysters, you can either keep it, or the people behind the bar will buy it from you for a price based on the size, color and shape of the pearl. I was living with an Aunt in Metairie when I was 10 y/o, and we visited the French Quarter often. I found one pearl they wanted to buy from me at a very nice price, so I sold it.
But their oysters were always very fresh, as they got them from the Gulf every day. And when they are very fresh they have a much different flavor than those that have been out of the water for a good while.
Pretty well everything here costs much less than it would in any western country - I live in comfort here on a Canadian government pension. That is why criticism of the low wages the workers here get is so wrong because those low wages are sufficient for the workers here to live quite well with all their needs covered. As for those oysters and scallops, I like them so much I'd eat them every day, but they cause me to suffer from gout if I eat too many, and unfortunately the pleasure does not equal the pain.
With neither respect nor condolences, I commemorate the passing of the prior administration with suitable depiction. May there never be another Frankenstein to revive it - it would be a GRAVE mistake.
The top one actually won me 1st prize in a contest. The bottom 3 were all taken at Buddhist temples, and are the monunents to the Buddhist leaders at the various temples, the bottom one was taken at Shaolin Temple, where Zen Kung Fu originated.
Anoon Buzz..very impressive tombstones...There are many Chinese graves here that go back to the 1800's from the gold rush days. And Bendigo has the largest Chinese dragon outside of China. So our history has very strong links with China even though the CCP hate us at moment. But as I have said they will get over it one day. Hope you and your wife are OK as we hear things are a bit grim over there with the virus again. Damn thing keeps rearing its ugly head. Stay safe.
I have a lady who lives in Bendigo that helped me create a very complicated database for a company I worked for several years ago. She taught me a lot about Bendigo and I taught her a lot about where I lived at the time. It sounded like a very beautiful place, and I really wanted to go and visit with her for a few days and see Bendigo and other areas. But, fate had a different plan and I was never able to go.
Yes Bendigo is a very nice city...will be a tad warm there Monday... kicking around 42oC and other places 45oC. We have had a coolish summer so far and got a massive cyclone off the coast of Western Australia at the moment..but that is normal this time of year. Stay safe and stay well.
Evening ...I think the whole world can sleep easier now..😀😀 Been a long 4 years and now I hope it is a case of.... Once bitten twice shy if he is thinking of 2024...
Most of the people in America are not Trumpers, and they out number the Trumpers by a large number. The election in Nov 2020 proved that to be true. So, even if Trump was to try to run again in the USA, the chances of his winning is very unlikely. And if the members of the Senate do what they should do and vote to Impeach Trump he will never, ever, be allowed to hold any official position in our government, and certainly not the position of President.
Everyone is still super-careful here. My wife and I still wear masks when we go out and keep our distance from those who don't, but there hasn't been an infection in our 32 million population city-state of Chongqing for about 8 or 9 months except for two or three imported (came from elsewhere) cases. Most of the present cases, and there seem to be a little over a hundred a day, are located north and farther north-east of us, although there was one case reported in Sichuan which is a couple hundred km north of us. There is too much trade history between Australia and China for things not to improve between the countries soon enough, and I don't think the USA will be pressuring other countries against China now that Trump and Pompeo are gone. Hope you are well and safe.
I had to copy and expand it to see the man who appears to be running, and behind him is his eagle spirit guide with wings outstretched, and they are in front of what I assume is the sun because of the blazing around the outside edges of it. What is it supposed to represent?
The man is doing a dance with the feathered shawl to represent wings of an Eagle. And his Spirit Guide is there to watch over him. Behind the dancer is a large shield to protect him from the glaring light behind it.
Ah yes. At first I thought he was carrying a feathered rod, but then when I saw the eagle head to the right of him I thought they were the eagle spirit guide's wings.
Just bought this stone carving off Craigslist about an hour ago. Originally from China and quite intricate in its detail. It’s impressive because the rock is very hard and dense, so it must have taken some skill and patience to complete.
Good question. I’m no geologist but I can say that it’s at least as heavy and durable as granite. The long strands that he is holding on to are apparently his super long grown out eyebrows. They are carved thin but still fully intact. Considering that the middle aged woman who sold it said it was her father’s, then it has survived for several decades without those breaking. That’s some hard stone.
A truly very interesting and intricate carving, Hal. The colors and details of the carving are also very interesting in how they are used. They call out the personality of the carving, and are a great enhancement to the carving overall.
A great job of photography in capturing both sides of the carving. Very nicely done.
That is a fascinating totem. It does have the appearance of granite, a stone I'm quite familiar with because of the amount of it at the lakefront home I used to own. However, granite is quite a difficult stone to carve, not just because of its hardness, but because it could flake.
Very interesting, and very beautiful, Pat. And the addition of the great saying by Abraham Lincoln really makes the roses seem to come to life. Awesome display, Pat.
Flowers and thorns. Life is full of such contrasts so well exemplified by roses and explained by Lincoln. Happiness and sadness, health and sickness, life and death, day and night, beauty and the beast, American presidencies.....
Thanks. I almost got a shot of a big pileated woodpecker the other day as well, but he refused to pose properly for me. Overly-cautious buggers. Hard to get close enough, even with a long zoom.
A little while ago I tried out my tripod on the moon for stability and better focus. I actually can't tell much of a difference compared to previously hand-held shots I've taken. Maybe in the second shot with the tighter zoom.
One of these days I'm going to get a moon shot with the International Space Station flying across it. I found a website that helps plan for transit views from a person's local grid coordinates.
Please post it here for us in whatever article is up at the time. I would love to see it as well. And both shots of the moon are very good. Thanks for sharing them with us.
The first one -- Aperture F-stop was 5.9, SS was 125, ISO was 125, and the zoom wasn't recorded, but it was just a little less than the next one, which I know.
The second one -- Aperture F-stop was 5.9, SS was 125, ISO was 80, and I had the zoom was maxed out at the 4800mm equivalent (optical +digital), which is the highest I can get at 18MP resolution. I can get more zoom if I go to a lower resolution, but things start looking crappy.
I don't know why the ISO says 125 on the first image, since I don't even have that setting in manual. That's what it says, though.
Forgot to mention that I also repurposed an old smart phone for use as a Wi-Fi remote, so I didn't even have to touch the camera to operate it (and possible move or shake it).
I think that feature is about the best thing since sliced bread when it comes to tripod shots. It has a decent range, too. It holds the connection out to about 40 ft. away or so.
Hopefully the Dove of Peace will rule the day for all now that there has been a change of direction. I think of this statue at the Sichuan Art Institute as being an interesing comparison to your Dove.
As a newbie to photography, I have a few questions if that's okay...
- What kind of post-processing software is used by those of you who use it? My camera came with 5 programs in a photo-video-art suite from Corel and I'm curious if they're any good. They are AfterShot Pro, PaintShop Pro, VideoStudio SE, Painter Essentials 7, and Photo Mirage.
- Does anyone bother manipulating Raw files?
- How do you get such awesome clarity on some of your shots, Mac? Is it just a powerful camera, or do you enhance afterward?
We are always happy to assist when, where and how we can. I for one use MS PowerPoint and CorelDraw for creating my artwork. Both have excellent features that allow for preparing my images, and then the backgrounds and framing of my artwork.
I have used these two software for many years and while I have tried other types of software, I find that the CorelDraw and PowerPoint work best for me. Some of the others don't have the unique features for editing and blending that I need for my artwork.
I have used Paint in the beginning, however, as my imagination took me down new roads I needed new techniques to achieve what I wanted to my artwork to achieve. Thus, I needed more sophisticated software to give me what I needed, and I found that CorelDraw and PowerPoint could fulfill those needs.
I am sure that Mac can give you far more detailed information that I can, but, this is just from my own perspective.
I truly hope this helps some, and I look forward to seeing your artwork.
Thank you Dig. As G says, several members here have suggested that I should sell my artwork. However, the artwork I do is about my Native American family, the Cherokee, as well as many of the other Tribes here in America and elsewhere.
Thus, there is a part of me in the artwork that I create, some of it my own ancestry, our beliefs, traditions and culture, as well as that of other Tribes.
I am most happy to share my artwork with my Brothers and Sisters here on NT who would appreciate and enjoy them. That is truly my best reward, and the greatest return on my investment of my time to create my artwork, and the great joy I get from it as well. And it means a lot more to me as well.
I'm pale, blond, and Nordic-looking, but family lore has it that my maternal grandmother's great-grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee named Blackbird.
A very interesting heritage you have Dig. I am 100% Cherokee. However, I am not dark skinned, and most Cherokees aren't. But, we are rather olive skinned.
I am an American as well. And this land was the homeland of my Cherokee ancestors, who, like many other Tribes settled this land long before their was the name America.
As a newbie to photography, I have a few questions if that's okay...
No problem; let me break up the questions and respond one-at-a-time.
• What kind of post-processing software is used by those of you who use it?
√ This is best determined by the anticipated, ultimate objectives of the photographer; Literal Representation of the Subject Matter, or, "Digital Art" (Edited to be more Painterly, Abstract, etc.)
√ Generally, where image quality is the ultimate objective, particularly for print/publication, or posting to the web, Photoshop Elements (inexpensive as compared to full Photoshop but more than adequate) will enable "correct" EXPOSURE, BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST and CROPPING for COMPOSITION. But do not expect any photo-editing software to make a poorly taken photo -- a good one. Start with a well-composed, well-exposed, well-focused photo and use post-processing to fine tune -- not salvage.
√ IMO, the most difficult aspect of photography is COMPOSITION … a poorly-composed photograph will not be saved by editing; a well-composed, well-exposed photo works in full-color, grayscale, toned color, etc. . If there's a request for it, I will post an article on "COMPOSITION".
• My camera came with 5 programs in a photo-video-art suite from Corel and I'm curious if they're any good. They are AfterShot Pro, PaintShop Pro, VideoStudio SE, Painter Essentials 7, and Photo Mirage.
√ The best advice I can give is to say, "EXPERIMENT" by taking one software at-a-time, and, go through the menu bar and drop-down items, at first, ON THE SAME PHOTOGRAPH so that the edits will be across the same elements rather than being applied to different original ones. One common tendency when using editing software, is to OVERDO it! I suggest making edits INCREMENTALLY until feeling a sense of being in control.
• Does anyone bother manipulating Raw files?
√ RAW files are those NOT EDITED BY A CAMERA'S PROCESSOR BEFORE BEING RECORDED TO THE MEMORY CARD. RAW/NEF files are recorded as shot, good, bad, ugly … as opposed to file formats like .JPG which are compressed by the camera to save memory, doing so by removing a significant portion of the original color information. In most cases, for most uses, .JPG images are all right, RAW/NEF file formats yield what the photographer's camera settings and skills yield out-of-the-camera.
• How do you get such awesome clarity on some of your shots, Mac? Is it just a powerful camera, or do you enhance afterward?
√ There are multiple factors regarding clarity (by which, I assume means "sharpness"). Depending on the subject, stationary or in-motion, the factors vary. A stationary subject is usually the easiest to give a clear, sharp image … but, in low light, without a flash, a long, slow, shutter speed makes a hand-held shot, literally, a shaky prospect -- requiring a tripod, beanbag or timer delay. There are other factors, but all things being equal, "steady-as-she-goes" is the priority.
√ For MOVING SUBJECTS, a camera with a fast, responsive auto-focus, for SINGLE-SHOTS or CONTINUOUS BURSTS … is a major asset. I shoot with a NIKON D500 which has good autofocus and can shoot bursts of up to 10 FRAMES PER SECOND! With BIRDS, if I can get 10 shots at a fast shutter speed in one second, USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, one of the ten shots will be acceptable. I often delete more bird photos than I keep … YOU ONLY NEED ONE WINNER AND NO ONE NEEDS TO SEE THE LOSERS.
√ DEPTH-OF-FIELD has a lot to do with "CLARITY" but that's a whole other essay.
I've played around with some editing, but I haven't been able to improve any shots yet, at least not to my eye. Then again, I don't really know what I'm doing yet.
A D500 is a lot more camera than I have, but I think mine can also take bursts at 10 fps. I know what you mean about throwing most shots away.
There are a few technique articles posted by A.Mac and myself that you could check out, they're listed under "PAGES", on the right hand side of the Creative Arts group page. However, anyone who is as skillful at gardening as you must surely be skillful in photography as well, and from what I've seen already of your work I don't think you're in need of much instruction.
I use Photoshop CC from the Creative Suite - A photography subscription version is $9.99 per month for either Lightroom with 1TB of cloud storage or Lightroom & Photoshop with 20GB of cloud storage. I think they give out a 30 day free trial too, but I'm not certain.
Yes, that is indeed very interesting fountain. Just a trickle of water falling into the pond. I can imaging the soft sound of the trickling of the water is very calming and soothing. I would like to spend some time just sitting by the pond and listening the to sound, however, for me, I would not be able to sit there very long.....
The gardens in both countries are truly so immaculately laid out, with a myriad of beautiful flowers and various plants. Their gardens are a vision of floral artistry itself.
I think that is why they both liked to create such beautiful, delicate and awesomely decorate vases. They were a great enhancement to the myriad of flowers they held.
Thank you Buzz. It is really a fascinating combination of life that shares our world. We are all so very lucky to have such an abundance of life forms of all kinds to make our lives more interesting, and enjoyable. We have sooo much to learn from each other.
Funny you should mention that, Buzz. I did design all my young daughter's school dresses and dress clothes up until she was in Middle school. I would design the set of clothes I wanted to make for her, then create my own patterns from wrapping paper. Then I would buy the trim and buttons according the the colors in the material and the theme of the dress.
Her teachers would also sometimes ask me where I bought her clothes, and when I told them I hand made them they were very surprised. And some would ask me if I would make dresses for their young Daughters or Granddaughters. I agreed with the agreement that they would have to buy the material, trim and I would make the dresses.
I also designed the dresses for the Barbie look alike dolls to sell at the school fund raisers. I love to sew, and designing my own creations. My Mother did the same for me, and I always had dresses that no one else had, and could not buy. It always made me feel special.
Seen before, but happy to see again. She is cuddling both a child and an infant? Give Raven a round of applause for a great well-framed image with mated birds colour-coordinated with birch trees.
No Buzz. It is part of her shoulder showing on her left side. What she is holding with her right hand is her left arm.
And that you so very much for your most kind words in mentioning the combination of all the images, Buzz. I truly appreciate them. I am so very glad that you like the artwork. I have to say that it is one of my favorites.
Thank you very much G. Your kind words are much appreciated.
While some here on NT may have seen some of the older artwork I created, it may be the first time seeing them for some of the new members to NT. So I like to re-post them now and then so that they can be seen by new members as well.
It has been raining on and off for 3 days straight, and more to come at the end of the week. So I think the flowers will be bright and cheerful come Spring. The frame of this photo is a real asset to it, and the flowering plants are really beautiful, so colorful and cheerful.
It's a new day in America … post your creativity … comment as you will.
Love Philly telling tyrants to fuck off...
I always thought it interesting that male birds were the ones with the fancy colours to attract drab-coloured females, whereas with respect to homo sapiens it's the opposite.
Since you posted pictures of a Cardinal and Philadelphia, I'll top that with a picture of a Blue Jay for Toronto.
Never heard of him.
LOL. .Well, I certainly have. I was there and watched that happen, and it was the most exciting moment in sports I have ever experienced in my lifetime.
Yeah! Me too. He broke a couple million Philly hearts one night in 1993.
What that picture didn't say is that it was the bottom of the ninth, and one more strike would have meant that the Phillies would have won the World Series. But it was another example of "Life Imitates Art", because it is exactly what happened in the movie The Natural when Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) hit the bottom of the 9th home run into the lights when he had two strikes on him and his team was one or two runs down, two runners on base to win the pennant. That movie was released in 1984. It's eerie!!!
Oooops. Correction. One more strike on Carter would have meant the teams would tie at 3 wins each and the series would have been decided with a seventh game. But the victory was at home, and a seventh game would have given the Phillies home team advantage. The rest of the facts of the New York Knights game are still the same.
Love the beautiful Cardinal, a really clear and detailed shot, and the picture of Philly expressing its long history with upholding its fight against tyrants since 1776.
Thanks for sharing them, they are a great start to the second day of America's unbroken pledge of resistance to the threat of tyranny across our nation.
Very nicely done.
The sun setting on 1/20/21 on the worst administration in history.
Stone Creek, Ocala FL.
Morning... Lovely photo..and the Dawn will be the beginning of a new era.
The peace and tranquility it reflects is hopefully a sign of things to come for the USA.
Although The Sun Also Rises , that administration deserves to remain forever MOONED .
Such a beautiful sunset, and a perfect way to say goodbye to the horrible President America has ever had and his destructive regime for America, its people, its Democracy, and our allies.
I am so thankful that the American people can now renew their belief in our nation, and that our government truly is for and by the people.
Gone, and never to be missed.
I'm starting a new 16 gallon aquarium. Technically this is called an Iwagumi style. Iwagumi is Japanese for rock formation. This is made from stacked Dragon Stone or Ohko Stone, which isn't stone at all. It's a hard natural clay from Japan that forms air pockets to give it this unique look. I have more rock coming on Saturday to add more height to the structure. Some of the plants I'll use will come from other tanks. Some are on order - they were supposed to be here this week, but they were not in the box with the one plant that did come. The one plant that did come is called Bucephalandra Mini Catherinea which I'll place about the nooks and crevices of the rocks.
It will sit next to the other 16 gallon tank in the living room with the betta fish and cherry shrimp.
They are going to look great together. The Cherry Shrimp are very cool.
Can you have more than one Beta in a tank ? I thought they attack each other.
There are people who do more than one female betta together - called sororities. You need to get them all at one time, young and provide enough cover for them to hide if they need to.
Fun fact - I have my male betta trained to come during feeding when I tap the food container on the glass.
They do.
Outstanding contribution to the article and Group, EG. It makes us extra special.
Many thanks!
Thanks!
For anyone who was worried - (giggle)
An update on the missing plants - In an email update from Customer Service they didn't find out why the other plants didn't go out, but they are sending out a replacement order and he said, "I'll make sure to make this order worth the wait!" so hopefully that will get here soon. I'll try to get a new photo up this weekend and another when the final plants are put in.
It must be really satisfying to be so accomplished in something that obviously gives you much pleasure.
As with all hobbies I think it is satisfying, but I'd have to say I'm not sure how accomplished I am at it. Doing these "aquascapes" are fun and I seem to have a little talent. The hard part is keeping it all going - which seems, for me, to often result in lots of algae issues. I need to be better at consistency in feeding, fertilizing and cleaning the tanks as they mature.
Did I ever tell you my one aquarium experience?
Are we talking about the KC Chiefs?
???
Morning evil...Errrrr ummmm can you eat those prawns/shrimp??? They look rather tasty...🦐🦐🦐
Eat his pets?!?!?!!!
No not his pets...the species in general. Never seen shrimp in an aquarium before... would not last long here they would be whopped on a barbie quick time..😀
Stick with Balmain Bugs, shona.
Here are some Moreton Bay Bugs, from Moreton Bay at Brisbane, cousins of the Balmian Bugs.
Oops. Balmain
Anoon..nah..not fussed with bugs..only go for prawns and crayfish. Actually you just saved me..I have just bought half a kilo of tiger prawns and left them in the car...crickey nothing worse than a bucket of prawns going off in the midday sun.. let alone inside a car....😣😣😣now in the fridge...tea tonight..😀🦐
Mudbugs. Yes we eat them. Haha
I worked with a kid one time that hated most seafood. I asked him why he hated shrimp and he said, because they are nothing but cockroaches of the sea.
We refer to them as crayfish but the official name is Southern Rock Lobster and come in around 1 to 2 kilo. Our prawns are around 10 centimetres long especially King prawns but Tigers are second best...very tasty cockroaches..
These look quite appetizing, very similar to the way oysters are served dressed in their shells at a booth here. The top one I thnk I could withstand sampling.
Glad to help!
I'm happy I could contribute to improved international relations.
Yes we have to look after one another..and thank you. Would have gone to get the prawns out for tea and....the smell in the car I would never have got rid of it.
It was a fairly warm sunny day today, 16 degrees centigrade, so we went for a walk and as I promised I took photos of the seafood booth that recently opened in our outside mall. Your Moreton Bay Bugs resemble the dressed fresh grilled oysters in their half shell. I took this photo of the booth:
Here are the oysters dressed, just a bit spicy, freshly grilled in their half shells - DELICIOUS. The cost? 4 for 10 yuan (i.e. = US$1.70)
And here are the scallops, dressed, just a bit spicy as well (remember that Chongqing is spicy hot-pot heaven) freshly grilled in their half shells - ALSO DELICIOUS. The cost? 5 for 15 yuan (i.e. = US$2.50). To hell with my gout, I LOVE those oysters and scallops. I don't know what the ones on the left are.
Ohhhh....now I 'm hungry! I love oysters on the half shell. There was a oyster bar on Canal St in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The deal is, if you find a pearl in the oyster you pick from the group of oysters, you can either keep it, or the people behind the bar will buy it from you for a price based on the size, color and shape of the pearl. I was living with an Aunt in Metairie when I was 10 y/o, and we visited the French Quarter often. I found one pearl they wanted to buy from me at a very nice price, so I sold it.
But their oysters were always very fresh, as they got them from the Gulf every day. And when they are very fresh they have a much different flavor than those that have been out of the water for a good while.
They are very very small and probably not worth the effort. Hahahaha!
As long as they are grilled, I would eat them up. But, hold the spice!
Anoon Buzz..thank you for taking the photos. Gee the prices are so cheap..I would be rolling up everyday for a feast...
Pretty well everything here costs much less than it would in any western country - I live in comfort here on a Canadian government pension. That is why criticism of the low wages the workers here get is so wrong because those low wages are sufficient for the workers here to live quite well with all their needs covered. As for those oysters and scallops, I like them so much I'd eat them every day, but they cause me to suffer from gout if I eat too many, and unfortunately the pleasure does not equal the pain.
Attended many of the Bon-Ton Soul Accordion Band Crawfish Festivals.
Suck the head and bite the tails.
Here is a creation for Thursday...
Deserving of commemoration, pictured here as a man of great strength whose name will never be forgotten.
Thanks Buzz. He was indeed a very brave Warrior, and a very wise leader.
That is another very powerful image, Raven Wing.
Thank you G. He was a great leader for his people. And a very historical Native American in the eyes of Americans.
Colorful shops, Kinsale, Ireland
Well, faith and begorrah, the top o' the morning to ya for posting such a colourful scene.
Kinsale was a very nice town on the coast in County Cork.
Since seafood has become a topic, we happened to eat at a well-known seafood restaurant near the Kinsale harbor called Fishy Fishy. It was great.
A great photo G. Very colorful indeed. Reminds me of some of the homes I see here in the So Cal area.
Thanks, Raven Wing.
With neither respect nor condolences, I commemorate the passing of the prior administration with suitable depiction. May there never be another Frankenstein to revive it - it would be a GRAVE mistake.
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Very interesting grave site photos, Buzz. Some appear to be very ornate.
The top one actually won me 1st prize in a contest. The bottom 3 were all taken at Buddhist temples, and are the monunents to the Buddhist leaders at the various temples, the bottom one was taken at Shaolin Temple, where Zen Kung Fu originated.
Anoon Buzz..very impressive tombstones...There are many Chinese graves here that go back to the 1800's from the gold rush days. And Bendigo has the largest Chinese dragon outside of China. So our history has very strong links with China even though the CCP hate us at moment. But as I have said they will get over it one day. Hope you and your wife are OK as we hear things are a bit grim over there with the virus again. Damn thing keeps rearing its ugly head. Stay safe.
I have a lady who lives in Bendigo that helped me create a very complicated database for a company I worked for several years ago. She taught me a lot about Bendigo and I taught her a lot about where I lived at the time. It sounded like a very beautiful place, and I really wanted to go and visit with her for a few days and see Bendigo and other areas. But, fate had a different plan and I was never able to go.
Yes Bendigo is a very nice city...will be a tad warm there Monday... kicking around 42oC and other places 45oC. We have had a coolish summer so far and got a massive cyclone off the coast of Western Australia at the moment..but that is normal this time of year. Stay safe and stay well.
Thank you shona, and the same for you. I can finally sleep well since Wednesday.
Evening ...I think the whole world can sleep easier now..😀😀 Been a long 4 years and now I hope it is a case of.... Once bitten twice shy if he is thinking of 2024...
Most of the people in America are not Trumpers, and they out number the Trumpers by a large number. The election in Nov 2020 proved that to be true. So, even if Trump was to try to run again in the USA, the chances of his winning is very unlikely. And if the members of the Senate do what they should do and vote to Impeach Trump he will never, ever, be allowed to hold any official position in our government, and certainly not the position of President.
Everyone is still super-careful here. My wife and I still wear masks when we go out and keep our distance from those who don't, but there hasn't been an infection in our 32 million population city-state of Chongqing for about 8 or 9 months except for two or three imported (came from elsewhere) cases. Most of the present cases, and there seem to be a little over a hundred a day, are located north and farther north-east of us, although there was one case reported in Sichuan which is a couple hundred km north of us. There is too much trade history between Australia and China for things not to improve between the countries soon enough, and I don't think the USA will be pressuring other countries against China now that Trump and Pompeo are gone. Hope you are well and safe.
Great series of photos.
This is one to lead us into Friday....
I had to copy and expand it to see the man who appears to be running, and behind him is his eagle spirit guide with wings outstretched, and they are in front of what I assume is the sun because of the blazing around the outside edges of it. What is it supposed to represent?
The man is doing a dance with the feathered shawl to represent wings of an Eagle. And his Spirit Guide is there to watch over him. Behind the dancer is a large shield to protect him from the glaring light behind it.
Ah yes. At first I thought he was carrying a feathered rod, but then when I saw the eagle head to the right of him I thought they were the eagle spirit guide's wings.
A Gray Jay - these birds rarely sit still long enough to get a photo. LOL!
A grey jay? A blue jay that has grown long in the tooth?
I don't think I've ever seen one of those before. Looks big.
We don't see too many of them here, either. I've only seen them once outside the bird sanctuary.
Just bought this stone carving off Craigslist about an hour ago. Originally from China and quite intricate in its detail. It’s impressive because the rock is very hard and dense, so it must have taken some skill and patience to complete.
Cool! What kind of stone?
Good question. I’m no geologist but I can say that it’s at least as heavy and durable as granite. The long strands that he is holding on to are apparently his super long grown out eyebrows. They are carved thin but still fully intact. Considering that the middle aged woman who sold it said it was her father’s, then it has survived for several decades without those breaking. That’s some hard stone.
Possibly some variety of quartz & hematite.
Very cool. Rocks, carvings and statuary are things I really find facinating.
Have collected minerals for many years now. I'll never get tired of it.
A truly very interesting and intricate carving, Hal. The colors and details of the carving are also very interesting in how they are used. They call out the personality of the carving, and are a great enhancement to the carving overall.
A great job of photography in capturing both sides of the carving. Very nicely done.
That is a fascinating totem. It does have the appearance of granite, a stone I'm quite familiar with because of the amount of it at the lakefront home I used to own. However, granite is quite a difficult stone to carve, not just because of its hardness, but because it could flake.
Definitely cool.
Here is my artwork for Friday. I hope that everyone will have a very happy weekend.
Very beautiful!
Thank you G. I'm very glad you like it.
Yes, happy colours for a happy weekend - quite a contrast from the gravestones I posted. LOL
Thanks Buzz. But, your gravestones were very interesting.
Just gorgeous Raven...
Thank you very much shona.
"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."
............................................................................................................ Abraham Lincoln
Very interesting, and very beautiful, Pat. And the addition of the great saying by Abraham Lincoln really makes the roses seem to come to life. Awesome display, Pat.
Thank you so much Raven !
Nice colors, Pat.
Flowers and thorns. Life is full of such contrasts so well exemplified by roses and explained by Lincoln. Happiness and sadness, health and sickness, life and death, day and night, beauty and the beast, American presidencies.....
Makes me long for spring and summer.
A winter-colored goldfinch, a white-throated sparrow visiting from Canada, what I think is a juvenile sharp-shinned hawk, and a recent sunset...
Those are great photos.
Thanks. I almost got a shot of a big pileated woodpecker the other day as well, but he refused to pose properly for me. Overly-cautious buggers. Hard to get close enough, even with a long zoom.
Visiting from Canada? I thought the border was closed.
All excellent photos.
LOL. Yup. I guess they over-winter here.
Thanks, Buzz.
Snowbirds.
A little while ago I tried out my tripod on the moon for stability and better focus. I actually can't tell much of a difference compared to previously hand-held shots I've taken. Maybe in the second shot with the tighter zoom.
One of these days I'm going to get a moon shot with the International Space Station flying across it. I found a website that helps plan for transit views from a person's local grid coordinates.
I can't wait to post something like that.
Please post it here for us in whatever article is up at the time. I would love to see it as well. And both shots of the moon are very good. Thanks for sharing them with us.
You're right - your hand-held shot that you posted on you own article is every bit as good as this tripod one.
Both are good shots. I'd be interested in knowing 1) Shutter Speed, 2) Aperture, &, ISO/ASA, 3) Lens lengthh/Zoom.
Looking at the data recorded with the images...
The first one -- Aperture F-stop was 5.9, SS was 125, ISO was 125, and the zoom wasn't recorded, but it was just a little less than the next one, which I know.
The second one -- Aperture F-stop was 5.9, SS was 125, ISO was 80, and I had the zoom was maxed out at the 4800mm equivalent (optical +digital), which is the highest I can get at 18MP resolution. I can get more zoom if I go to a lower resolution, but things start looking crappy.
I don't know why the ISO says 125 on the first image, since I don't even have that setting in manual. That's what it says, though.
Forgot to mention that I also repurposed an old smart phone for use as a Wi-Fi remote, so I didn't even have to touch the camera to operate it (and possible move or shake it).
I think that feature is about the best thing since sliced bread when it comes to tripod shots. It has a decent range, too. It holds the connection out to about 40 ft. away or so.
Nice detail in both shots!
Have been trying for that shot with my Celestron for years now. What am I doing wrong?
Do you mean a shot of the moon, or the ISS making a transit of the moon?
Awesome shots all, Dig. Well done!
Nice!
Thanks to everyone who makes the Group special. Let's keep it going.
Dove of Peace
© A. Mac/A.G.
A very beautiful Dove, Mac. Is the orb behind the Dove and seemingly moving toward the sun a moon about to eclipse the sun?
Nicely done, Mac. The overlays are are very well placed to give a truly well balanced representation.
Hopefully the Dove of Peace will rule the day for all now that there has been a change of direction. I think of this statue at the Sichuan Art Institute as being an interesing comparison to your Dove.
A very interesting artwork, Buzz. Is there a title to the artwork? It really is impressive. And the framing is excellent!
I don't recall seeing a descriptive plaque. I personally entitled it "If I Were a Bird", after the song.
Ahhh...ok, thanks Buzz.
Loved Easy Rider.
LOL. Maybe the Holy Modal Rounders song is the one I was thinking of.
As a newbie to photography, I have a few questions if that's okay...
- What kind of post-processing software is used by those of you who use it? My camera came with 5 programs in a photo-video-art suite from Corel and I'm curious if they're any good. They are AfterShot Pro, PaintShop Pro, VideoStudio SE, Painter Essentials 7, and Photo Mirage.
- Does anyone bother manipulating Raw files?
- How do you get such awesome clarity on some of your shots, Mac? Is it just a powerful camera, or do you enhance afterward?
Where to begin? Tomorrow I will attempt to answer your questions in detail.
Hey, thanks Mac. I appreciate it.
Hi Dig, (smile)
We are always happy to assist when, where and how we can. I for one use MS PowerPoint and CorelDraw for creating my artwork. Both have excellent features that allow for preparing my images, and then the backgrounds and framing of my artwork.
I have used these two software for many years and while I have tried other types of software, I find that the CorelDraw and PowerPoint work best for me. Some of the others don't have the unique features for editing and blending that I need for my artwork.
I have used Paint in the beginning, however, as my imagination took me down new roads I needed new techniques to achieve what I wanted to my artwork to achieve. Thus, I needed more sophisticated software to give me what I needed, and I found that CorelDraw and PowerPoint could fulfill those needs.
I am sure that Mac can give you far more detailed information that I can, but, this is just from my own perspective.
I truly hope this helps some, and I look forward to seeing your artwork.
Thanks for the info, RW. I'm often blown away by your artwork. It's spectacular. You could sell prints.
Several of us have told her that. Her artwork is spectacular.
Thank you Dig. As G says, several members here have suggested that I should sell my artwork. However, the artwork I do is about my Native American family, the Cherokee, as well as many of the other Tribes here in America and elsewhere.
Thus, there is a part of me in the artwork that I create, some of it my own ancestry, our beliefs, traditions and culture, as well as that of other Tribes.
I am most happy to share my artwork with my Brothers and Sisters here on NT who would appreciate and enjoy them. That is truly my best reward, and the greatest return on my investment of my time to create my artwork, and the great joy I get from it as well. And it means a lot more to me as well.
That is very true, G. And I thank you very much for that. (smile)
I'm pale, blond, and Nordic-looking, but family lore has it that my maternal grandmother's great-grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee named Blackbird.
A very interesting heritage you have Dig. I am 100% Cherokee. However, I am not dark skinned, and most Cherokees aren't. But, we are rather olive skinned.
Am half German and half Iriish. Never cared much about either.
I, am an American.
I am an American as well. And this land was the homeland of my Cherokee ancestors, who, like many other Tribes settled this land long before their was the name America.
Yes, that was helpful. Thanks.
I've played around with some editing, but I haven't been able to improve any shots yet, at least not to my eye. Then again, I don't really know what I'm doing yet.
A D500 is a lot more camera than I have, but I think mine can also take bursts at 10 fps. I know what you mean about throwing most shots away.
Thanks again for the info, Mac.
I request that you post an article on "Composition".
He already did.
It is posted with other articles on technique that are linked on the "Pages" column, on the right hand side of the Creative Arts group page.
Great article. I am going to study it carefully. Thanks!
Thanks, Buzz!
There are a few technique articles posted by A.Mac and myself that you could check out, they're listed under "PAGES", on the right hand side of the Creative Arts group page. However, anyone who is as skillful at gardening as you must surely be skillful in photography as well, and from what I've seen already of your work I don't think you're in need of much instruction.
I use Photoshop CC from the Creative Suite - A photography subscription version is $9.99 per month for either Lightroom with 1TB of cloud storage or Lightroom & Photoshop with 20GB of cloud storage. I think they give out a 30 day free trial too, but I'm not certain.
Thanks, EG.
Kyoto garden with a bamboo fountain.
Impressive photo G. The flowering bushes are really beautiful!
Thank you, Raven Wing. The flowers are beautiful. I especially love the thin bamboo fountain.
Yes, that is indeed very interesting fountain. Just a trickle of water falling into the pond. I can imaging the soft sound of the trickling of the water is very calming and soothing. I would like to spend some time just sitting by the pond and listening the to sound, however, for me, I would not be able to sit there very long.....
Cool. Are those floating planters in the water?
That's a good question. I don't think they are, but it's possible.
That is indeed a very interesting question, Dig. They do look very much like floating planters, but, that could just be an illusion.
Japanese gardens are amazing - nice photo of one.
I love Japanese gardens. I love Chinese gardens, also.
The gardens in both countries are truly so immaculately laid out, with a myriad of beautiful flowers and various plants. Their gardens are a vision of floral artistry itself.
I think that is why they both liked to create such beautiful, delicate and awesomely decorate vases. They were a great enhancement to the myriad of flowers they held.
OK....we need one to slip us into Saturday...
Both lovely and significant - totems showing we are all connected.
Thank you Buzz. It is really a fascinating combination of life that shares our world. We are all so very lucky to have such an abundance of life forms of all kinds to make our lives more interesting, and enjoyable. We have sooo much to learn from each other.
Saturday is here, and time for another creation...
You are amazingly skillful at colour coordination and in the exercise of good taste - bet you could have been a great fashion designer.
Funny you should mention that, Buzz. I did design all my young daughter's school dresses and dress clothes up until she was in Middle school. I would design the set of clothes I wanted to make for her, then create my own patterns from wrapping paper. Then I would buy the trim and buttons according the the colors in the material and the theme of the dress.
Her teachers would also sometimes ask me where I bought her clothes, and when I told them I hand made them they were very surprised. And some would ask me if I would make dresses for their young Daughters or Granddaughters. I agreed with the agreement that they would have to buy the material, trim and I would make the dresses.
I also designed the dresses for the Barbie look alike dolls to sell at the school fund raisers. I love to sew, and designing my own creations. My Mother did the same for me, and I always had dresses that no one else had, and could not buy. It always made me feel special.
I could tell.
Moving it to Sunday.
Osprey (Fish Hawk)
© A. Mac/A.G.
Amazing photo - where was it taken?
That is truly awesome, Mac. The colors are outstanding. A very beautiful bird.
Did you say Sundae?
O - M - G.....my lips are smacking, and my stomach is looking to find enough space.
On a hot sunny day, after a few hours in a museum in Zhengzhou, in a hotel across the street, I ate the whole thing, and enjoyed every spoonful.
You ate the whole thing? Really?
Give the man a round of applause...!!!!!
Well, it was pretty big - but I didn't eat the unbrella.
Oh.. well..that was a real Blessing. I would hate to think what might have happened if it opened on the way out.
Very cool. Great photo.
OKay... it's now Sunday and ready for another artwork...
very nice.
Thank you dev. I'm very glad you like it.
Seen before, but happy to see again. She is cuddling both a child and an infant? Give Raven a round of applause for a great well-framed image with mated birds colour-coordinated with birch trees.
No Buzz. It is part of her shoulder showing on her left side. What she is holding with her right hand is her left arm.
And that you so very much for your most kind words in mentioning the combination of all the images, Buzz. I truly appreciate them. I am so very glad that you like the artwork. I have to say that it is one of my favorites.
That is such a wonderful image. Beautiful work of art, Raven Wing.
Thank you very much G. Your kind words are much appreciated.
While some here on NT may have seen some of the older artwork I created, it may be the first time seeing them for some of the new members to NT. So I like to re-post them now and then so that they can be seen by new members as well.
I was thinking of spring today...
It has been raining on and off for 3 days straight, and more to come at the end of the week. So I think the flowers will be bright and cheerful come Spring. The frame of this photo is a real asset to it, and the flowering plants are really beautiful, so colorful and cheerful.
Thank you for sharing it with us.