I am beauty wasted
Snowflakes seldom tasted
Changing always ever
Quirky winter weather!!!

I am quiet like fallling snow at night
I am peaceful ... yes!!!
Here on earth as guest
I am often random
snowflake not in tandern
Different drummers beat
Destiny to meet.....

Saturday morning, 10.30, as the sun breaks through to chase away the frost at Rouken Glen Park, Glasgow.

[They all get bigger if you click on them]

Cheers, Tom.

Inspired by a recent posting I decided to dig out a few of my own 'Growths' as it were.

All taken in Southamptons 'Old' cemetery over a period of time. I refer to a previous posting when I say    " Nature will overcome all"

Ivy, I believe

I am quiet like falling snow at night
I am peaceful.... Yes!
Here on Earth as guest.

I Am Snow I Am
I can grow I can
Sky of beauty bright
Touching Heaven's Light.

Some folks just like to leave their marks ...

No photo from me (at the moment) but some information:

The BBC is looking for your photos on the following topics:

Pollution, meal time, learning, red, traffic.

I went downtown earlier this afternoon and I must say, I walked through the city with different eyes. I kept wondering: could I use this, or would that motif fit, and so on.

Thought I'd let you know, maybe you want to participate. I know I will!

My friend emailed me this photo and just wondered what you thought?

Well as I cannot get the photo to show I am posting one of my daughter in Thailand and pray that will show up. 

I am just hoping you can see this one ?

this is Aeham, he found this hat there upon the rocks so it deserves some photoes!

Taken with a mobile phone camera.

Breakfast for Bacon.

Copyright-Dean Christopher,2008.

www.dcphotoart.blog.co.uk

The Buddhist monk is dumping a bucket of eels into the river during the celebration of Buddhists' Kathina festival last year. The festival is marked with alms-giving, and the Buddhists dub releasing animals, including the eels, back to nature as part of the alms-giving activities.

This couple of elderlies were praying in front of their children's tombs. Luckily they were so absorbed in the prayer that they didn't realize I was taking their picture : )

More of my images can be viewed at www.lochnessimages.com or by clicking here.

...with the other one:

 After the snow came heavy rain and then just as I was leaving the caravan to come home the sun came out too and gave me a lovely farewell rainbow.

A little on the 'Scenic' side for me as I'm more of a documentary type guy. Still worth posting I think.

No photoshop either, got it pretty much right at the taking stage.

Art. Where is it, how is it, what is it, how do I know it when I find it, how will I know that I've found it if I dunno what IT is? And so on.....I care not but I can give you some windows that have assumed an 'Arty' pose:

Location: Kadidiri resort island in Togean Islands, Tomini Bay, Sulawesi (a major Indonesian island).

 As taken from my caravan balcony this morning.

I generally prefer those without feathers ! More of my images may be seen by clicking here. Click on each picture to enlarge.

Found this whilst having a photographic trundle around my favourite disused cemetery.

Even after having been cut down and dumped at the side of a road as an edging, this tree refused to die.

.........just that, two seagulls, somewhere in Southampton which members of the 'Guess where Southampton' photo group on flickr have to guess.

Not as easy as it at first seems.

I posted this on my flickr site for a group that I'm a member of, it being 'Guess where Southampton'. The point being to take photographs of places/things in the town with the object of getting other group members scratching their respective heads.
This one did very well:

Single exposure, minimum Ps, lots of images in one photograph.

Dennypoos.......................where Art meets Arty&Farty.

As I showed you 'Serendipity', I feel duty bound to show you at least one photograph taken when the dolt didn't jog my elbow, an' ere tis:

Dennypoos...............better than the 'Echo's' staff photographer, does nowt for free.

My concern here is where do the other avian exotica get to cross and who, on the council, gave planning for a 'sole use' crossing here in Southampton,

Dennypoos....................I can always find the bizarre.

More of my images may be viewed by clicking here.

Hi to everybody...a lovely paintbrush cloud sky today outside our house...

And lovely to see blue sky...

Davidjohn suggested posting my art work in photo group as it is art work digitaly enhanced
I have posted this before in artemisart group
I called it the Infusion because it is expressing letting go of yourself....
Let the emotion of "TRUTH" engulf you....
Taste the reality of life with the veil removed.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP.....

His veil falling from his face
White against the dark unknown
HIS ANTICIPATION ???

So there I was taking photographs of the QE2's farewell voyage. Some clown behind me jogged my elbow as I was taking yet another shot and I mentally wrote that one off.
When I bunged them into Photoshop I was ready to delete this and several others, but wait, by rotating the picture 90' it turns out like this:

Reminds me of a Medusa.

Dennypoos..........sows ear, silk purse, what do you mean?

a few of my photos from ropes school 2008

BANANA Commonly called as
in Dansk (Danish) - banan ; Nederlands (Dutch) banaan, bananenboom; Français (French) n. - banane, bananier ; Deutsch (German) n. Bananenbaum, Banane ; Ελληνική (Greek) n. - μπανάνα ; Italiano (Italian) banano, banana ; Português (Portuguese) n. - banana (f) (Bot.) ; Русский (Russian) банан ; Español (Spanish) n. - plátano, banano, banana, guineo, cambur ; Svenska (Swedish) n. – banan; 中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified)) 香蕉, 草黄色, 香蕉味, 喜剧演员 ; 中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional)) n. - 香蕉, 草黃色, 香蕉味, 喜劇演員 ; 한국어 (Korean) n. - 바나나 ; 日本語 (Japanese) n. - バナナ, バナナの木; العربيه (Arabic) (الاسم) موز, شجرة الموز او ثمرها; עברית (Hebrew) n.- ‮בננה‬
Filipino (Tagalog) n. Saging
Or whatever you call it…….check the photo which can be found in Negros, Philippines, registered in Guinness Book of Record…..
The longest Banana cluster and Bunches……..I don’t know exactly the height measurement but it tends to be more than 12 feet high… which almost parallel to the height of this banana plant. (Banana variety not specified)

That's what I first thought was wriggling near my feet!

I wonder how many legs there are in total?

Whilst trying to catch up with postings in this group I noticed the large amount of pics of mushrooms, this reminded me of a picture that I took recently, "a mushroom house".

"Hoxha was an extremely paranoid dictator and was sure that the rest of the world was going to invade Albania. He commissioned the construction of 800,000 concrete bunkers that could withstand a tank assault. Some of these bunkers are shaped like round domes and others are basic square buildings. They are located throughout the country and especially along
the coast line. Today, many of them are being used as storage sheds, animal shelters, or bars. As our ferry departed, we watched the bunkers pass for approximately 40 minutes as we cruised along the Albanian coast. What a country!! "

( from the site, http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Albania/South/Sarand-/blog-299039.html )

Many thanks to everyone who voted for my entry into CJ's Snapsfactor Challenge 4. Congratulations to the winner Jake Taylor.

My entry came second and I'm well pleased. The top picture is the one I submitted followed by a further three I took at the same time. Don't go having nightmares now!

Oh - if you missed the Challenge the theme was Halloween!

And someone's arm and a sheep's head! Or is it just me that can see them?

Cloud over the Atlantic

While surfing the net I came across this nice little camera and accessories site if anyone's interested just click on this link cameras4u.zlio.net

not as cold out there as yesterday though.

Now, off to the station.

X

I turn away for a half a day and everyone's blogging mushrooms!..I'm not sure what that's all about but I may as well put in my twopenneth.
Two pics which I first posted HERE last June.

I took this pic during the summer (ha ha), can't name it, but don't think it's a ordinary wasp or bee???
Any ideas?

And just for fun - a toadstool eye-view of my garden

A fungus (pronounced /ˈfʌŋgəs/) is a eukaryotic organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (pronounced /ˈfʌndʒaɪ/).[2] The fungi are heterotrophic organisms possessing a chitinous cell wall. The majority of species grow as multicellular filaments called hyphae forming a mycelium; some fungal species also grow as single cells. Sexual and asexual reproduction of the fungi is commonly via spores, often produced on specialized structures or in fruiting bodies. Some species have lost the ability to form reproductive structures, and propagate solely by vegetative growth. Yeasts, molds, and mushrooms are examples of fungi. The fungi are a monophyletic group that is phylogenetically clearly distinct from the morphologically similar slime molds (myxomycetes) and water molds (oomycetes). The fungi are more closely related to animals than plants, yet the discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi, known as mycology, often falls under a branch of botany.

Occurring worldwide, most fungi are largely invisible to the naked eye, living for the most part in soil, dead matter, and as symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi. They perform an essential role in all ecosystems in decomposing organic matter and are indispensable in nutrient cycling and exchange. Some fungi become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or molds. Many fungal species have long been used as a direct source of food, such as mushrooms and truffles and in fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. More recently, fungi are being used as sources for antibiotics used in medicine and various enzymes, such as cellulases, pectinases, and proteases, important for industrial use or as active ingredients of detergents. Many fungi produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides that are toxic to animals including humans. Some fungi are used recreationally or in traditional ceremonies as a source of psychotropic compounds. Several species of the fungi are significant pathogens of humans and other animals, and losses due to diseases of crops (e.g., rice blast disease) or food spoilage caused by fungi can have a large impact on human food supply and local economies.

So now you know

Erm ... what's the difference?

I work with Americans and when I used the word "fungi" once, I was told that more refers to the mycel that grows underground, whereas the fruiting body we eat is always referred to as "mushroom" in general terms, regardless of which ones they are.

Is this wrong? Might have something to do that in general, Americans don't go mushroom hunting (they have too many dangerous animals in their woods).

When we go mushroom hunting in the spring these are what we look for. And oh they are really good breaded and fried Hmmmmmmmm Of course finding them is not as easy as you think. I can be in the woods and walk right past what I am looking for. Really dont make a good mushroom hunter. I would rather have someone hunt,and just bring them for me to eat

Seems like everyone is blogging mushrooms so I thought I would add this selection from the woods near here on a recent Autumn walk with Nick and Sarah

no idea what type they are, probably all toxic. Not sure if I have blogged them before

These look a bit like a seashell, quite pretty

sort of like antlers

These are quite pretty too

I would definitely not want to eat any of these.

X

"We all have to die, but with death comes new life"

(Mushrooms and Remembrance in one)

In memoriam to ALL victims of wars

I can see a sunset from my terrace after all!

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them"

A woman announces to her friend that she is getting married for the fourth time.
"How wonderful! But I hope you don't mind me asking what happened to your first husband?"
"He ate poisonous mushrooms and died."
"Oh, how tragic! What about your second husband?"
"He ate poisonous mushrooms too and died."
"Oh, how terrible! I'm almost afraid to ask you about your third husband."
"He died of a broken neck."
"A broken neck?"
"He wouldn't eat the mushrooms."

...here is one I did for my course. This is a digital snap, of a real black and white photograph that I developed and printed myself, so quality has been lost. The white bits in the corners are the result of my inaccuracy in photographing the photograph - they aren't on the original.

Cheers, Tom.

Slightly cropped.

You can't see the statue or St. Mary, though, because the INSIDE of the window / plastic cover was wet from the fog that morning. I remember walking up to it and trying to wipe it clean, but couldn't.

This photo was taken the same day as the Autumn photos on my blog, incidentally.

November is the month of Remembrance, and this past Saturday, the victims of the Kristallnacht were remembered in Germany.

The stones bear the names of local Jewish individuals or families who fell victim to the atrocities.

May you rest in peace now.

The area I live in is very Catholic, and you find wayside crosses (or other devotional monuments) all over the place.

I still don't have a macro lens (yet) - they're just so expensive! - but fortunately my camera has a relatively good macro program:

I just have a thing for mushrooms ...

"A season of mists and mellow fruitfulness"

October 2008

(click the picture to enlarge it)

Cheers, Tom.

I LOVE CUTE!!!
((X))

This usually blossoms in March. I'm not sure whether it's extremely late or extremely early.

Out over the ocean and its waves it lay
A magnificent orange sphere, as it drops to the sea
With spears desending from within the fire
The magnificent beauty of the sunset each day.

Which image is best ? This one or the previous one ? More images at www.lochnessimages.com

Don't forget it's time to vote for your favourite Halloween photo in the fourth of CJ's Snaps Factor Challenges.

... to ripen them!

Anyone for tennis???

Not really so surprising, especially in our garden.
The fact that they're flowering in November is a little more unusual.
But then, so are the strawberries,

................ and found gold

This Photo expresses how I feel.....
Like a bird in flight.....
The mystery of where I land is my hope...

I almost missed this against the Autumn leaves!

A beautiful art form....((X))

This flower was growing in profusion along the road side in Kassiopi, Corfu.

Strange custom. Hard to explain to foreign visitors.

Reflecting On The Horizon....

The Mallard Drake out on the lake
His beak bright orange..... ready to "plunge"

Aimee (age 6 years 10 months) has taken this one.

Ding dong bell
Pussy's in the well
Who put her in?
Little Johnny Flynn
Who pulled her out?
Little Tommy Stout
What a naughty boy was that
Try to drown poor Pussycat,
Who ne'er did any harm
But killed all the mice
In the Farmer's barn!

I have a big snow ball in my hand........I can see you!!!!!

These photos were done within one minute of each other (and not tampered with afterwards). Can't make up my mind which one I like better

It wasn't as big as I thought it would be though lol.

There you are curled up small....
Tweet Sweet hides among the fall....

When I took this photo it reminded me of this nursery rhyme so thought I'd use it for the challenge

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

    Agreed to have a battle;

For Tweedledum said Tweedledee

    Had spoiled his nice new rattle.

Just then flew down a monstrous crow,

    As black as a tar-barrel;

Which frightened both the heroes so,

    They quite forgot their quarrel.

TWEET-SWEET
AND CUTE TOOT....

Sorry for all the blank posts, when i was doing it, it kept coming up "Post not found"
xx

Here is my entry for the competition:

Nursery Rhymes - I've Been Workin' on the Railroad

I've been workin' on the railroad,
All the live long day.

I've been workin' on the railroad,
Just to pass the time away.
Don't you hear the whistle blowing?
Rise up so early in the morn.
Don't you hear the captain shouting
"Dinah, blow your horn"?

Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow your horn?

Dinah, won't you blow, 
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow your horn?

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah.
Someone's in the kitchen, I know.
Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
Strumming on the old banjo.

Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Strumming on the old banjo

Click pic to make big! xx

On Thursday I posted another Photo Challenge and put up this picture

Someone (Julie) commented that it would look nostalgic in black and white

NotBob suggested sepia

What do you think?

He stopped and did not move..... upright waiting.... on the deck
A Robust Squirrel!!!