Mother Nature's Photo Gallery

[Bowwowmeow]

Here is the place to post pictures of the wonderful world around us!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/LeavesinWater.jpg
These leaves looked pretty washed up against the shore of the pond.

[Bowwowmeow]

Here is the view from the path I walk one of my customers on.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Slough.jpg

[Bowwowmeow]

Turtles sunning themselves after it rained for forty days and forty nights here. This is in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/TurtlesinSF.jpg

[Bowwowmeow]

California Poppies!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/CaPoppies.jpg

[Oracl]

Beautiful pictures, Bow. :colors: I'll have to search for some from this part of the world. :agree:

[Bowwowmeow]

Yes, do please!

Lichens growing on a park bench. i love lichens. They are a good indicator of air quality, as they will not grow if the air is too polluted.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/LichensonBench.jpg

[Oracl]

Barron Falls near Cairns after recent rain associated with Cyclone Monica. :rain:

[Oracl]

Stoney Creek near Cairns. A lovely spot to visit on a hot day. :)

[Fauxmage]

Oh, those are beautiful, Oracl! I especially like the falls. :colors:

[Fauxmage]

Not a single one of these blossoms is more than maybe half a centimeter across. The meadow where I walk one of my customers is full of tiny blooms after all the rain we have had. I love finding tiny beautiful things. :smallheart:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/May016.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/May013.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/May008.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/May007.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/May005.jpg

[Oracl]

Those flowers are beautiful. :colors: Cute bug too! :bug1:

They remind me of some of the flowers I used to see in spring in South Australia, in a temperate climate. Here in the tropics flowers tend to be bigger and more flamboyant. :tulips: I love the tiny flowers best. : :daisydance:

[BonaDrag]

Gorgeous photos, I was scared there was going to be more uncovered flesh - what a relief :)

[Fauxmage]

Gorgeous photos, I was scared there was going to be more uncovered flesh - what a relief :)
(Pssst. BonaDrag. Don't look now, but those turtles are naked.)
:wigglebutt:

[veggiesosage]

This is a UK swan landing

[veggiesosage]

And lastly (for now) here is UK mini daffodil, after the rain

[veggiesosage]

Here's a nice flower from NZ, no idea of the species or anything

[veggiesosage]

A mix of UK and New Zealand photos coming up

This is Sperm Whale diving, NZ obviously





Hope you like em!

[veggiesosage]

This is a fur seal, again from NZ. Someone needs to think of a better name for them...

[Dexter]

wow everyone!

Such nice pictures :)

[Oracl]

Brilliant pictures, Andy. :thumbsup:

:cheer:

[veggiesosage]

Fanks!:)

I like nature piccies

[Bowwowmeow]

I want to give that seal a kiss right on the nose. :nanakiss: :colors:

[veggiesosage]

I'm not sure thats wise, it would probably take your nose right off:crazy:

[Bowwowmeow]

He doesn't look like he would, but you are probably right Andy! I am used to a colony of extremely friendly sea lions who live at my favorite beach, and will swim right up to you if you are swimming or surfing. They are fearless and playful when in the sea, because it is their element.

[thevegantwins]

This photo was taken yesterday at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in Brooklyn, New York. I love lilacs so my husband took me and the kids to see the lilac garden for Mother's Day. :excited:

[Tiggerwoos]

Andy, that seal is soooooo cute, reminds me of my Potty cat Potty who lies there with in the same pose doing nothing with the same expression on her face and is a bit on the podgy side, despite being on an excellent diet, is just lazy.

VeganTwins, that hare is beautiful. Looks like he or she is posing especially for you and your camera.

[Bowwowmeow]

Aw, that's a great picture, vegantwins! :dutchbun:

[Oracl]

Yes, lovely pic, vegantwins. :)

:rabbit:

[Dexter]

I'm not sure thats wise, it would probably take your nose right off:crazy:

On the contrary, i think he would/should blush, being kissed by such a pretty lady :D

------


nice picture TVTs :)

[veggiesosage]

And the Huka Falls, which is kind of a drain for Lake Taupo

[veggiesosage]

I'm sure hare's are very difficult to catch on camera so cool.

Something of a more scenic nature now. Here is a panorama of lake Taupo in New Zealand

[Raven]

Lovely pics everyone.

[thevegantwins]

This is a Walking Stick (really the name of the insect) taken on our balcony railing 2 years ago. They are pretty rare and I think are protected.

[thevegantwins]

This was taken at the organic farm I got to to pick my veggies from spring to autumn. This was 2 summers ago, they had an abundance of peppers (capsicums). My car is the VW closest to the veggies, not the gas-guzzling SUV.

[Dexter]

nice, on both counts
:)

[Fauxmage]

What he said. :agree:

[Oracl]

Yes. :agree: :colors:

[Bowwowmeow]

This is a wisteria vine. I wish the flowers lasted longer. They have the most beautiful scent.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Wisteria.jpg

[Dexter]

This is a wisteria vine. I wish the flowers lasted longer. They have the most beautiful scent.


wow

very nice :)

[veggiesosage]

Here's a rather arty shot of Franz Joseph Glacier (New Zealand) up close

[Bowwowmeow]

That's beautiful, Andy. It makes me feel cold when I look at it. :snow:

[moie]

last...

[moie]

that pic is the sh*it Andy!!


here is some of my most recent..... i can't wait until i get a good camera

[moie]

and more...

[moie]

another


(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d132/mophoto2121/Photo82.jpg)

[moie]

another


(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d132/mophoto2121/Photo82.jpg)

[Oracl]

Great photos, Andy and moie! :thumbsup:

Where were yours taken, moie? :)

[moie]

they were taken in the smokey mountains... some were taken in the smokey mountain national park and others were on the property our cabin was on, in bryson city, NC...
the best was when we went white water rafting (couldn't bring cameras, too wet) and we found out why they are called the smokey mountains.... they really smoke.. it was amazing.. our guide said it was the weather and humidity reacting to all of the tree leaves..

[Bowwowmeow]

I especially like those strange pink flowers, and the person hiding amongst the green leaves. :colors:

[Dexter]

very nice pics Andy and Moie! :)


and very beautiful Caprita :)

[thevegantwins]

Beautiful shots everyone! What a beautiful world (least where humans aren't around)

[moie]

ok this isn't exactly nature but it is a park, and i had to post it somewhere--- i saw it off I-75 i think it was in kentucky. :rofl:


(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d132/mophoto2121/Photo655.jpg)

[Bowwowmeow]

ok this isn't exactly nature but it is a park, and i had to post it somewhere--- i saw it off I-75 i think it was in kentucky. :rofl:


:laugh::laugh::laugh:
Where do they get these names?

[Dexter]

hahaha

[Bowwowmeow]

Here's a little critter in the middle of this white rose. He's not a spider. I am not sure exactly what he is! :bug2:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/WhiteRose.jpg

[Dexter]

hehe

cute!

[Bowwowmeow]

More roses. Caprita inspired me with all of hers. :smallheart:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Roses.jpg

[Dexter]

wow
very pretty :)

[Bowwowmeow]

Thanks Dexter. It just grows wild in the marina parking lot. I can't figure out why the salt hasn't killed it, or the white one with the tiny bug on it, but I'm glad, because they are pretty.

[Caprita]

More roses. Caprita inspired me with all of hers. :smallheart:

They're beautiful, BWM! I'm happy my roses have inspired such piccies. I'm in a rosy mood now! :colors:

[veggiesosage]

Here's my pic of the moon

[Dexter]

ahhhh
my planet :)

very good pic Andy :)

[moie]

nice andy,

i am still perplexed at how such an inexpensive camera can take such good pics:dark: unless yours is better than you said??:)

[Caprita]

Wow, Andy! I wish I could take such a picture.

[veggiesosage]

nice veg,

i am still perplexed at how such an inexpensive camera can take such good pics:dark: unless yours is better than you said??:)

Ah, well you see, I've got a new camera now, an Olympus E500 DSLR. The moon shot was taken with a 300mm equiv zoom lens.

My last camera could never pull off a decent shot of the moon, it was just all blurry.

Wow, Veggie! I wish I could take such a picture

As you can see Caprita, its all in the equipment this time, no skill involved! (a tripod helped too)

[moie]

cable release too?

jealous:)

i miss my slr!

[Caprita]

Ah, thanks. I do want a tripod. It's darn expensive here though. Mine is Canon PowerShot A 400. A blue one ;)

[veggiesosage]

Yeah a tripod is pretty essential kit. I've never thought of using a cable release though, I tend to use the timer if I'm worried about camera shake.

[veggiesosage]

A picture of a fox, who was a long way away.

[veggiesosage]

...and a squirrell...

[veggiesosage]

...and some flowers...

[Fauxmage]

Oh, those are nice, Andy, and so is the moon picture. I have never seen a wild fox, though we do have them out in the marshes around here.
Thanks for sharing with us! :nanakiss:

[Dexter]

wow
super pics Andy :)

[thevegantwins]

Those are beautiful shots, Andy. I love the squirrel pic particularly. I always loved squirrels.

[Bowwowmeow]

Here is a camellia flower growing in the garden of one of my customers.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/CopyofWhiteCamellia.jpg

[Bowwowmeow]

This is from a eucalyptus tree growing in the marina parking lot.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/photos492.jpg

[Bowwowmeow]

Some ferns.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/photos143.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/photos141.jpg

[Caprita]

Wow!!! I love all of them, Andy *and* bwm!!!

[Dexter]

^ again, what she said :)

[Willow]

BWM, those pictures are gorgeous! And very interesting, especially the second one. Is the spiral part of the fern? It reminds me of a picture of a native New Zealand plant :rubchin: :D

[veggiesosage]

You do good flower and nature pics BWM :yea:

I've just set up a small website for some of my pics, its at http://andysphotos.moonfruit.com/ the address should be in my signature too. There's about 25 pics on there at the mo, mainly from my surrounding area and from New Zealand.

[Bowwowmeow]

BWM, those pictures are gorgeous! And very interesting, especially the second one. Is the spiral part of the fern? It reminds me of a picture of a native New Zealand plant :rubchin: :DThanks Willow!
Its a giant tree fern Willow. I am not sure where they are native to, I will have to look it up. This was growing in a customer's front entry. Its still very small. The spiral is a "fiddlehead"; the young leaf which has not grown large enough to unfurl.

[Bowwowmeow]

You do good flower and nature pics MWM :yea:

I've just set up a small website for some of my pics, its at http://andysphotos.moonfruit.com/ the address should be in my signature too. There's about 25 pics on there at the mo, mainly from my surrounding area and from New Zealand.
Thanks Andy!
I checked your new site. I really like it!

[moie]

bowwowmeow-
i really like the symmetry of that white flower... striking.. would look good large scale:)

nice site andy:)

[Bowwowmeow]

Thanks moie! I do like white flowers, for some reason. :)

[thevegantwins]

:master: :master: Bowwow, those botany shots are magical. I just saw a bag of fiddlehead ferns in Trader Joe's the other night, I was tempted to buy them as they are might tasty but they looked a bit mushy.

I'm certainly no art critic but I'm awed by the amount of talent on this site. :master: :master:

[Bowwowmeow]

Blue flowers:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/TinyBlueFlowers.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/Hydrangea.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/HydrangeaandAfricanIris.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/LilyoftheNile.jpg

[Oracl]

This is a great thread, full of beautiful pictures. :thumbsup: :colors:

[Bowwowmeow]

I wished I'd had my camera today. I was eating my lunch in the truck, parked at the San Carlos Airport, when this stunning red winged blackbird came hovering right at the open window of the truck. He wanted me to share my sandwich! I used to park there a lot to eat my lunch and watch the planes, and I always brought bird seed to give to all the beggars. I didn't have any for him today, though.

Here is a picture of what they look like:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/RedWingedBlackbird.jpg

[Bubbles]

Is it a blackbird or a black bird? Common names can be confusing.

[Bowwowmeow]

Is it a blackbird or a black bird? Common names can be confusing. Its "blackbird (http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/mlist/h4980.html)" .

[veggiesosage]

Here's just after sunrise this morning, near where I live

[Caprita]

Great job, Andy! :agree:

[veggiesosage]

Yay! Got a macro lens, just a basic one but better than nothing. Here's some initial results

[veggiesosage]

Here's another

[veggiesosage]

one more...

[Bowwowmeow]

Beautiful, Andy! I had another look at your website, too. Its looking good. :thumbsup:

[veggiesosage]

Thanks very much BWM. There's a continuous improvement regime going on with me website so its worth popping back from time to time (or I think it is anyway :D )

Edit; have just added new page For Buxton in Derbyshire (thats very near the Chestnut Centre that Witchy went to for those who don't know the UK) and have added a couple of new flowers in the 'Plant life/death' page.

[veggiesosage]

A greenfly and if you look carefully (they're a bit out of focus) you can see its got babies!

[thevegantwins]

That is amazing, Andy! I've never seen fly babies before :infant: .

[Bowwowmeow]

That is amazing, veggiesosage! I've never seen fly babies before :infant: .
Those are what we call aphids, vegantwins, and the "babies" are most likely clones of the "mother". Aphids can clone offspring by what is known as "budding", and they can also reproduce sexually.

That is a wonderful shot, Andy! :yea:

[thevegantwins]

Those are what we call aphids, vegantwins, and the "babies" are most likely clones of the "mother". Aphids can clone offspring by what is known as "budding", and they can also reproduce sexually.


:professor: Biology geek! :D

[Bowwowmeow]

:D :D
The funny thing is I never took biology in school on account of the dissection requirement. I still find it awfully interesting, though. :o

[veggiesosage]

Thanks for the compliments again guys, you know thats the only reason I post piccies, to earn your praise :D

It was a difficult shot to say the least, the light wasn't that great, macro lenses don't let much light in anyway and not only was the thing only 3-4mm long, I had hardly any depth of field to work with either.

So I'm quite pleased with myself to get it, in case you can't tell :D

[Caprita]

That is a wonderful piccy, Andy! :agree: I never seem to take quality pictures of insects.

[BabaGhannooj]

I think they're gross. They must like cat food because they come eat it every time it rains. They're HUGE. Sorry about how the picture came out. They only way I know how to make the picture smaller is to cut out chunks of it.

[veggiesosage]

If anyone knows what type of caterpillar this is please tell me

[veggiesosage]

If anyone knows waht type of moth this is please tell me

[veggiesosage]

Yay I found out, bless the internet. Its a Cinnabar Moth and yes, that is its caterpillar. Apparently quite common.

The Caterpillar is pretty poisonous apparently.

[thevegantwins]

That's a beautiful moth, our moths are only white or beige. I thought it was a butterfly.

The caterpillar is poisonous to whom? Not to humans, is it?

[veggiesosage]

Well, I wasn't going to try eating one VT, what with being a vegan and all that :D .

I presume its poisonous to the usual caterpillar predators which in my garden would be birds I suppose.

[Bowwowmeow]

Those are great pictures, Andy. You must be having lots of fun with your new lens! :psing:

[Oracl]

That Cinnabar Moth is absolutely fabulous! :colors: Great pics Andy. :agree: :thumbsup:

[Tiggerwoos]

The colours of that moth and caterpillar are amazing!

Brill piccies!

[Rainbow]

and humingbird varieties. :agree:

[Rainbow]

Talking of moths, I can't help loving hawkmoths...

[Rainbow]

Particularly elephant... :agree:

[veggiesosage]

Wow, cool. I want humming bird moths in my life :D

More results from travels, both are from Edale in Derbyshire , this is a heather flower, its teeny tiny in real life

[veggiesosage]

And a waterfall.

[Rainbow]

That's a wondrous waterful - exquisite :thumbsup:

[Caprita]

:wow:! Those are really cool piccies!! :D

[veggiesosage]

Thanks a lot guys!

Had to ge me feet wet to get the waterfall. And there's a bit of a photoshop trick in there...:D

[veggiesosage]

If anyone knows what this is, please let me know cos I want to put it up on my website. Its always a bit embarassing if you just call a pic 'flower'...

[Bowwowmeow]

It reminds me of a foxglove, but it would help if you could describe the rest of the plant it grows on, Andy.

[Gliondrach]

Looks like some sort of orchid.

[veggiesosage]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Prob is, I just did a close up of the flower. It wasn't very big, probably smaller than your thumb and there were a lot of them all over bushes about 4-5 ft tall growing near the river. The rest of the plant was very nondescript so didn't include it in the photo, no interesting shaped leaves as far as I can remember.

Gliondrach, like you siad it looks orchidish which was why I decided to photo it. I doubt it is an orchid though cos I thought they were all pretty rare and these were all over the shop.

[Gliondrach]

It looks suspiciously like Himalayan Balsam. This is a menace. It is taking over these islands. It must be eradicated at all costs before every other species has been strangled. Don't stand next to one when it is about to shed its seeds. These explode from the pod and can be shot for great distances. They have been known to bring down low flying aircraft.

dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/himalbals.htm

shim.bc.ca/invasivespecies/images/himbalsam_flower.jpg

[Caprita]

Beautiful photo, Andy! :agree:

I'm no expert in flower names, but I think we call it "Lion's Mouth" here. Irrelevant though, it's just a translation of the Romanian name for it - "Gura Leului".

[veggiesosage]

Thanks Gliondrach, I think you've hit the nail on the head. My photo has just got a bit of the seed pod in it and that seems to be the clincher. I'll take my tin hat with me next time I go walking down the river. And yes, the stuff is everywhere.

Thanks for the compliment too Caprita :D

[Bowwowmeow]

Here is one of my favorite little bugs. Its a leafhopper of some sort, and its about a centimeter long. When you look at them head on, they have little brown smilie features on their lime green faces. :)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Leafhopper.jpg

[veggiesosage]

Thats really cool. I like bugs :D

[Gliondrach]

Andy, if you get the chance, it will put you in good with the local wildlife if you report those Hooligan Balsams to your local wildlife trust or county countryside rangers. They look beautiful - the flowers, not the rangers - but they can ruin habitats for our native wildlife. They have regular Balsam Bashing days in this area.

[Gliondrach]

Those green insects look like some I saw in India. Those were about a quarter of an inch long. They came out at night.

[veggiesosage]

Ok mate, I will do.

Although I have to say, the local wildlife trust is pretty hot round there (its just down the path from Attenborough) and they've got a new nature centre there. But yeah, will contact them.

[Oracl]

Here is one of my favorite little bugs. Its a leafhopper of some sort, and its about a centimeter long. When you look at them head on, they have little brown smilie features on their lime green faces. :)
Very cute! :nanakiss: We get similar ones here. :agree:

[veggiesosage]

Spider comin atcha!

He lives in my front door

[thevegantwins]

That's a beauty!

[Tiggerwoos]

Just realised his face looks like the cookie monster from Sesame St.

Quite cute really!

[paul]

excellent photoes everyone.

[Oracl]

Mr Cal, a good friend of mine, ;) took this photograph of pelicans on Moreton Bay, near where we live.

[Bowwowmeow]

Beautiful! I just saw a large flock yesterday while on my way to the city. :psing:

[Oracl]

Spider comin atcha!

He lives in my front door.
I meant to say :wow: Andy! What an amazing picture. :thumbsup: How big is the spider really?! :)

[Oracl]

Beautiful! I just saw a large flock yesterday while on my way to the city. :psing:
They are lovely birds. :agree: I love to watch them flying over here towards the bay. For such a big bird they are surprisingly graceful in flight. :colors:

[veggiesosage]

Cool pelican pic :yea:

Spidey is barely an inch across in real life Oracl. Used a dedicated macro lens for the shot.

[Oracl]

Cool pelican pic :yea:
Thanks, I'll tell Mr Cal. ;)

Spidey is barely an inch across in real life Oracl. Used a dedicated macro lens for the shot.
I guess it's fortunate that he's not as big as he appears or some people might not want to use your front door!! :eek: :webspider: :D

[Caprita]

Nice photos, Andy and Mr. Cal. :D

I have a spider friend too. His name is Incognito. *giggles* Named after an anime character... I'll post some pics tomorrow. :agree:

[Oracl]

I have a spider friend too. His name is Incognito. *giggles* Named after an anime character... I'll post some pics tomorrow. :agree:
:D Sounds cute, Caprita! I love spiders. :colors: Looking forward to the pics. :agree:

[veggiesosage]

Not a spider pic this time unfortunately but I think this still qualifies as being 'Mother Nature's'.

This is Derwent Water near Keswick in the Lake District, where I think Donald Watson lived until his death last year,

[Bowwowmeow]

That's beautiful, Andy. I love the colors. :smallheart:

[thevegantwins]

That is gorgeous, Andy. So serene.

[Oracl]

Yes, very peaceful. :colors:

[Caprita]

Indeed, a lovely pic, Andy! :agree:

[veggiesosage]

Spidey's gone! Wasn't in his web this morning so he's either gone walkabout or become somebody else's lunch. Or got indigestion...

[Fauxmage]

Maybe he's gone camera-shy. ;)

[veggiesosage]

Its alright, he's come back now. He really should leave a note if he's going away :D

[thevegantwins]

We had a spider do that in our old apartment. It was a freaky looking orange and black spider so we took a photo and took the photo to a nature center. The 'scientist' working there couldn't identify it. The spider would hang around then go on walkabout and return a bit later but then it just disappeared. I hope it didn't discover the liquor store/crack house across the street :dark:

[veggiesosage]

Does anybody know whether flash from cameras can cause any harm to insects, spiders or for that matter any other animals' eyes? I've been told it can freak chickens out, good job they're not the most exciting thing to photograph lol:D

I'm being unkind, but if anyone knows please do tell.

[paul]

:spider:

[Caprita]

Andy: I'm not sure about insects and spiders, but my cat friend Lucy loves having her picture taken. :)

[veggiesosage]

Couple of pics of latest travels...

[veggiesosage]

Both Lyme Regis, South West coast UK

[Fauxmage]

Those are beautiful, Andy. The water and sky look so perfect and clear, its as if I am standing right there. I love the beach! :agree:

[Fauxmage]

We don't get much autumn color here on the west coast, but here's a pretty shrub.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006AutumnLeaves2.jpg

[thevegantwins]

Beautiful shots, Andy and faux. I love the color of that bush, faux. Like rhubarb (which I hate the taste of but it's a pretty color ) I particularly love the clouds in that 2nd shot, Andy.

[Oracl]

^^^ :agree: Agree with all the above comments, Andy ands Faux. :thumbsup: :colors:
(Including the rhubarb reference! :blecch: )

[Fauxmage]

Here's a fuschia growing on Alcatraz Island. Its their blooming season, and they grow beautifully in the city limits, but do poorly outside the fog zones.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/Fuschias.jpg

[1vegan]

Both Lyme Regis, South West coast UK

That's such a nice area, I wouldn't mind living there :)
(been there in 2001, walked from lyme regis to beer iirc)

[Fauxmage]

Here's a happy squirrel. I was giving him almonds, and he was stuffing them in his cheeks. :colors:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006GroundSquirrel.jpg

[paul]

thats such a loverly photo, so sweet.:thumbsup:

[Bowwowmeow]

:) Here he is in the bearproof foodlocker (I was in Yosemite) looking for more.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006IntheBearproofFoodlocke.jpg

[Oracl]

Great photos everyone! :nanakiss: :colors:

[paul]

:agree: yes such lovely wonderfull photos

[Tiggerwoos]

Aww, lovely pictures!

[Bowwowmeow]

Here are some photos of Yosemite, which is a world famous attraction. It is a glacier-cut valley, which accounts for its many waterfalls. In contrast, the Grand Canyon of Arizona is river-cut, and posseses no waterfalls.

Here is El Capitan, the largest known single granite batholith:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006ElCapitan4.jpg

Its also known as Tutukanula, after an inch worm who rescued a pair of bear cubs stranded at the top. Its a Native American legend:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006ElCapitanTutukanula.jpg
There were some climbers who were preparing to climb the sheer vertical face of Tutukanula. They estimated it would take them four to five days to do this. I couldn't believe that they intended to spend several nights tied to the mountainside, and with a storm coming too!

Here is Bridalveil Falls, the only major waterfall in Yosemite still flowing. Autumn is not the best season to view Yosemite's waterfalls, since there is no rain all summer.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006BridalveilFalls2.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006BridalveilFalls5.jpg

Here is Half Dome, another granite batholith popular with rock climbers.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006HalfDome2.jpg

Within the Valley there is a small village once occupied by the Ahwahnee people. This is an acorn granary they built. Acorns were a staple food for the people in the area:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006AcornGranary2.jpg

Here is one of their bark homes. I found it ever so much more harmonious with their natural surroundings than the buildings they made later in imitation of what white people were building:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006BarkHome.jpg

It was getting too dark to take many more pictures in the village. I would have liked to have taken more!

Here is Yosemite Falls. Or at least, where the falls would be if they hadn't dried up!:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006YosemiteFalls1.jpg

And here is a picture of the Valley, looking east:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006YosemiteValley1.jpg

I was lucky the weather was so nice, though it was cold at night. There was a storm heading in, and it was raining steadily in the Bay Area by the time I got back. I still wonder how those rock climbers fared.

[Bowwowmeow]

At the southern end of the park, I saw the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006MariposaGroveEntrance.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006EntrancetoGiantSequoiaG.jpg

This is called the Clothespin Tree:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006ClothespinTree.jpg

Here is a group of large trees:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006GiantSequoiaGroup2.jpg

It is fortunate for these giant Sequoias that their wood is very weak. When they fall, the trunks crack across the grain, looking as if they had been cut with chain saws. When people attempted to log them, they cracked when they hit the ground, making them unsuitable for logging, and saving their one to three thousand year old lives:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006FallenSequoias3.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006TreeRings.jpg

Here is a fallen giant, with its roots exposed. They are very beautiful, even when dead and lying on the ground:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006SequoiaRoots1.jpg

Here are a couple of shots of a cluster near the Mariposa Museum:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006MariposaGrove2.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006MariposaGrove1.jpg

Here are some pictures of the California Tunnel Tree, which is a still living and growing Sequoia with a tunnel carved through it. The path leads through it, so that visitors are allowed to pass underneath. Most of the trees are off limits, since their roots are very shallow and susceptible to fatal damage by human traffic:


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006CaliforniaTunnelTree5.jpg

[paul]

wow

[Bowwowmeow]

Thanks paul! Should I go into the vegan touring business, and show vegans from all over the world all the best places to go in California? :D

[paul]

you should, ive never wanted to go to america un till i saw the wonderfull beutifull photos ive seen on this fourm over the last few months

[Bowwowmeow]

America isn't such a bad place, if you just ignore some of the people. ;) :whistle: There is still lots of open space and natural beauty to be found, and a few people who fight to keep it that way.

[paul]

you never know, i mught pop over and see the natrual beauty of america one day, keep fighting to keep it, nature is amazing.

[Bowwowmeow]

It sure is. :colors:

[Gliondrach]

Nice pictures. The tree ones are beautiful. That legend about the bear cubs is a true story. Fuzzy told me that it is part of bear mythology now. Those redwood trees must make quite a noise when they fall over.

[thevegantwins]

:wow: Great photos, Bow. Makes me want to revisit SF and CA. I loved SF when we visited in 2001 (week before 9/11) and even looked into social work jobs there. We didn't walk across the Golden Gate though or visit Alcatraz. One of my favorite spots was that wave organ (http://roadtripamerica.com/places/waveorg.htm). I loved it. The Yosemite photos were beautiful. I'd love to visit there. Did you get any photos of bears?

[Bowwowmeow]

Did you get any photos of bears? Well, since you asked . . . . . .

[Bowwowmeow]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Bears.jpg
;) :D

[thevegantwins]

Haha :)

[Bowwowmeow]

I have quite a fondness for manzanita. It is a native shrub/tree that is very fire resistant, and has a rich coppery red bark, which contrasts beautifully with the silvery wood underneath. Its is often fire-scarred, which is how the silvery wood gets stripped of its red bark, and its growth patterns are twisted and gnarled, which makes it very interesting to look at. Here are a few pictures of it:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006OldRoots.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006Manzanita1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006BurntManzanita.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006ManzanitaBark.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006ManzanitaRoots.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006ManzanitaTrunk.jpg

[Oracl]

Those pics are absolutely stunning, BWM. :colors:

[Bowwowmeow]

Aw, thanks, Oracl. Its a beautiful subject, so its easy to take pictures of. :o

[paul]

yet again im GOBSMACKED,:thumbsup: :rock:

[thevegantwins]

Those are wicked cool. I can see why you are fascinated with them. I wish I brought my camera today, we were in the park and some of the leaves still on the trees were the most vibrant colors.

[Bowwowmeow]

Thanks vegantwins! :nanakiss:

I also love moss. Its one of the few things I enjoy about this time of the year; the moss starts to grow.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006MossyRock.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006MossonFallenSequoia.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006MossyTreeTrunk.jpg

[Gliondrach]

I like moss, too. And lichen. It looks great on rocks and even on paving stones.

[Keykeypie]

I have quite a fondness for manzanita. It is a native shrub/tree that is very fire resistant, and has a rich coppery red bark, which contrasts beautifully with the silvery wood underneath.

Awe..those are really beautiful Bowwow! And I'm SO glad they're fire resistant
......because of >===>you know who (http://www.thenakedvegan.net/showthread.php?p=13447#post13447post13447)

[Bowwowmeow]

Oh dear! Well, hopefully in the seventy-odd years that have passed since then, he has learned to be safe and sane. ;)
:fourthjuly:

[Oracl]

Awe..those are really beautiful Bowwow! And I'm SO glad they're fire resistant
......because of >===>you know who (http://www.thenakedvegan.net/showthread.php?p=13447#post13447post13447)
;) :lol:

[Gliondrach]

In the 7 or 8 years since then I have learnt to be safe. One out of two isn't bad.

[Fauxmage]

Here are a couple of close-up shots of a very old pine tree.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006PineTreeBark-1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006AgedTree.jpg

[Gliondrach]

They look like rock formations.

[Bowwowmeow]

I like to try to take pictures of natural things that seem like pictures of something other than what I am actually photographing. :updn:

[thevegantwins]

Once again, I wish I had my camera with me but I forgot it. We were at the farm, picking organic veg as we do almost every Saturday and I couldn't find Sarah. Ben & I walked down the last row where we had seen her. As I called her name, her head popped up and she said 'hi.' She had made a nest in some huge collard greens and she looked like a Collard Patch Kid! :D

Then she created a new game called Tomatillo Toss, you pick tomatillos off the plant and see how far you can throw them.

[Bowwowmeow]

I can just imagine it. :) Do you know any artists vegantwins? You could send one a picture of Sarah, and tell them to draw her amongst a bunch of collards. :painting:

[Fauxmage]

Here is a pretty little cascade in Yosemite Valley, downstream from Bridalveil Falls.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Yosemite/Yosemite2006Cascade.jpg

[veggiesosage]

There's some really nice colours in that picture of the pine tree FM. Have you brightened them up at all or is that how it looks?

[Bowwowmeow]

I don't have Photoshop, but there is an "enhance" feature in the software that came with my camera which I use on most of my photos, except for the Golden Gate Bridge pictures I took. The pictures I took of the Ahwahnee village were black until I used the "enhance" function, as the light level was too low, even with the flash. I use it quite often, so I am sure I must have used it on the pine tree too, though those trees are very richly colored anyway, especially in the afternoon light. But sometimes the "enhance" function makes the picture look weird, or darker, so I don't always use it.

[Fauxmage]

I met a new customer, who lives in the hills to the west of where I live. I went to walk the dog, a darling 15 year old collie named Fred, the other evening at twilight. We walked down a quiet cul de sac lined with very tall trees, and I began to realize that the bats were flying about. I haven't seen bats like that since I used to go camping in the mountains years ago! As I looked up to watch them, I caught sight of a large moth hovering about an arm's length above my upturned face. Within a few seconds, a bat swooped down and the hapless moth disappeared! I've never seen anything like it that close before. There was no way I could have caught it on camera, but here is a picture of the sort of bat we have living around here. They are quite tiny, only having about 6 to 8 inches wingspan, and maybe a 3 or 4 inch long body.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/BayAreaBats.jpg

[thevegantwins]

That is cool though I think I would have shit myself :o

[Oracl]

...here is a picture of the sort of bat we have living around here. They are quite tiny, only having about 6 to 8 inches wingspan, and maybe a 3 or 4 inch long body.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/lauralb/Nature/BayAreaBats.jpg
That is so beautiful, Fauxmage. :nanakiss: We get similar little bats here, but they fly so fast that the only one I have ever seen close up was a little injured one that was being looked after by a wildlife carer. :colors:

[veggiesosage]

Bats are cool, I've never really seen one close up though.

Here's a pic of a waterfall in Lathkill Dale in Derbyshire,

[veggiesosage]

And a stretch of the River Lathkill further along



Its a really beautiful place. I often go there to straighten my head out, trouble is I just get depresed when I have to leave!

[Oracl]

That looks like a very peaceful place, Andy. :colors:

[veggiesosage]

Here's another from the same area, for your amusement :D

[Gliondrach]

The pictures confirm what a beautiful place Derbyshire is.

[thevegantwins]

The pictures confirm what a beautiful place Derbyshire is.
Elizabeth Bennett found it to be most fetching, even without considering the added bonus of Mr. Darcy and the beautiful Pemberly. (I read alot :reading: )

[veggiesosage]

If we're going all literary, you might be interested to know that a new version of Jane Eyre has recently been filmed in the area, mostly at Haddon Hall.

They had to set the place on fire for one scene and according to a local I spoke to on Sunday they had about 150 calls to the fire brigade, despite a lot of warnings in the local media.

[veggiesosage]

Found this walking along my window sill. Its a bit cold for lil critters like this. Anybody know what it is?

[thevegantwins]

I believe it's a bug. :lol:

[Keykeypie]

I believe it's a bug. :lol:
I believe it's a green bug:rofl:

[veggiesosage]

Fauxmage, quick, your site's been invaded by comedians :rolleyes: :D

[Bowwowmeow]

Where? ;)

[Bowwowmeow]

Seriously, Andy, that looks a little like a member of the Harlequin Stink Bug family. I haven't looked up the latin name. I've never seen one in green, though. But he's shaped the same, and it looks like he might have a harlequin pattern on his back.

[veggiesosage]

Thanks BWM. However, someone over at my online workplace has said its a Green Shield Bug. And they're confident enough to provide the latin name too (Palomena prasina apparently).

[veggiesosage]

...and actually, I don't like the idea of it being a stink bug at all...

[Bowwowmeow]

Uh oh, well, stink bugs and shield bugs are interchangeable common names for the same critter. Just don't offend him, and I'm sure everything will be ok. :D

[veggiesosage]

Thats cool, I'm learning stuff all the time :D

Actually, having a stink bug around could be a handy excuse for stray pongs when visitors come round...:D

[Bowwowmeow]

I'll have to remember that the next time I'm in an elevator, and somebody farts and runs. :laugh:

[Oracl]

I'll have to remember that the next time I'm in an elevator, and somebody farts and runs. :laugh:
Poor little stink bug, being blamed for all nasty pongs! :lol:

[Ped Ant]

that's right, blame the bugs! :rolleyes: :grumble:

[veggiesosage]

I've called this one 'The Tomato's the Star' because, well it is really :D

[thevegantwins]

Beautiful

[Oracl]

That is really stunning. :colors: How did you get that beautiful effect with the light? It's so white and the tomato casts such a clear shadow. :rubchin:

[veggiesosage]

Went out to Edale in Derbyshire on Saturday, here are a couple of pics

[veggiesosage]

Went out to Edale in Derbyshire on Saturday, here are a couple of pics

[Gliondrach]

Beautiful. I would like to own a bit of woodland like the bit in the second picture.

[Charmagne]

Beautiful photography!! Just went through your slideshow. Have you had many published?

[Fauxmage]

That looks just like the Crystal Springs reservoir right here in the Bay Area, Andy, and the valley between the Coastal Range and the hills all along the Peninsula. I thought I was looking at a picture of Woodside, CA when I looked at the first one. :agree:

[Oracl]

Lovely photographs. :agree: Great countryside. :)

[veggiesosage]

Thanks all. Not had any published although not really tried to tell the truth.

[veggiesosage]

Couldn't resist sharing a couple more from the Edale trip. These were done using a special technique called High Dynamic Range which is basically a method of combining the details from differently exposed shots of the same scene in software. It means that you can see more of the detail than you would be able to in just one exposure.

[veggiesosage]

.


Hope you like

[Fauxmage]

Those are beautiful, as always, Andy. I am curious to know what they looked like before, though.
Couldn't resist sharing a couple more from the Edale trip. These were done using a special technique called High Dynamic Range which is basically a method of combining the details from differently exposed shots of the same scene in software. It means that you can see more of the detail than you would be able to in just one exposure...
Hope you like This reminded me of your limerick (http://www.thenakedvegan.net/showpost.php?p=16128&postcount=100). Everyone here gets their own limerick; did you know that? ;)

[veggiesosage]

I'd not seen the limerick, cool :D

[veggiesosage]

As you can see they are taken at different exposures and the software combines them together to make the final result. There's a little bit of tidying up in Photoshop afterwards.

[veggiesosage]

Well here are the 3 shots

[Fauxmage]

Wow, that's quite a difference in the final result.

[Oracl]

Yes, the final result has a slightly surreal quality. :rubchin:

[Gliondrach]

Clever stuff. The building in the second picture looks as if it could be made into a great house.

[Charmagne]

This reminded me of your limerick (http://www.thenakedvegan.net/showpost.php?p=16128&postcount=100). Everyone here gets their own limerick; did you know that? ;)

Do I have a limerick?:excited:

[Fauxmage]

I don't think you do! The limerick authors have been slacking since our last few new members joined.

[Gliondrach]

Charmagne has a limerick now.