Sometimes… with all our instrumentation, and satellites, and radar and super-computers… it’s better to simply just look around.
Captured recently in Forked River, New Jersey
Month: March 2013
Inside and Around St. Peter’s Basilica
As the installation of Pope Francis is now official, much of the media’s coverage is winding down and with it, another glimpse into the awe-inspiring treasures within the walls of the Vatican. A multitude of adjectives could not describe what fills the senses when trying to capture “being there,” but often, we rely on our cameras to remind ourselves of these often-profound moments.
Here are a few images captured March, 2011 from within and around the awesome Saint Peters Basilica, in Vatican City, Rome, Italy.
On Second Look: What’s that?
Occasionally, if not rarely, images reveal things never initially expected: and sometimes not even realized until much later, a kind of bonus that begs investigation. And so it was with two examples shown here.
Sometime ago, while viewing in awe of the spectacular scenery in Tarr Inlet, Alaska, (part of the Glacier Bay National Park,) I was taken by the desolation and natural magnificence of an enormous broad gravel fan with multiple streams feeding into the inlet about halfway along it’s North-Eastern shore. In turn, fed by a bowl of glaciated valleys and high peaks, reaching 6500′, the ridge-line of this area has been called “nearly inaccessible.” From our ship’s vantage point, nearly a mile away, it’s sea-level deposition of glacial sediment and gravel appeared thoroughly desolate. But some time later after the trip I noticed something not seen before, and confirmed after zooming in, it was a person in a blue coat! Having not seen any form of boat, kyack, dinghy or other means of transportation made me wonder the degree to which THIS GUY would go to seek seclusion!
Then, in early 2011, there was this telephoto image just at the moment of sunset from somewhere east of Eleuthera Island, Bahamas, the Atlantic Ocean seemingly devoid of anything except our very large Allure of the Seas cruise ship. On second look sometime later, there was this dot… this thing, proven to be real as it was in several images, that nobody could have seen without magnified aid or radar. What was THAT! Probably a sailboat??, but…. you never know, out there…, alone.
Low and Behold!
Ok, the previous post was in the category: DREAM-ON, while in fact, a late winter storm has been dumping up to a foot or more of REALITY on much of the mid west. As not to leave the NE out of the fun, this system is hitting DC now, and parenting another low pressure system off the coast, a nor’easter forecast to produce frigid high winds, coastal flooding and snow. It reminded me of the pretty kind of winter, as seen below, captured a while ago at Niagara Falls, NY in the shadow of the condensation mist. On that day, a few years ago, it was very cold….+3deg. (F) on the US side….and -16 (C) across the river! (!) So as the barometric pressure deepens, and we prepare for tonight, all that can really be said is… Low and Behold!
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Did Someone Say PARADISE?
Speaking of the BVI’s (see previous post,) I can’t help but throw in a few more pictures of this idyllic place of warm sunshine; beautiful soft beaches; tall palm trees; pristine clear water ripe for snorkeling; boulders to climb on, under and over; grottos; stunning light plays; and an incredible “trail” leading to one of the worlds most impressive natural places – Devil’s Bay. Coming across it for the first time leaves the senses stunned. As part of the BVI National Park, the area is well preserved and protected, but a visitors warning is the potential for excessive visitors. Planning an early morning, or late afternoon time is best. Better yet, is spending the day “on the ball” on a surprisingly reasonable-cost sailboat chartered by the week, and shuttling in by dinghy. When we were there, the marine life was beautiful and plentiful, but thankfully, there were no gigantic LADY BUGS!
