A few nice image search images I found:
Rebel T2i - Beach stripes
Image by @Doug88888
Rebel T2i - Beach stripes
See my Most Interesting l Getty l Faves l On Black l Explore My Stream
Nice Image Search photos
Nice Wedding Photo photos
Check out these wedding photo images:
Wedding Portraits | Vincent & Pauline Couilleau | © Justin Beckley Photography
Image by Justin Beckley Photography
Wedding Portraits | Château de la Galissonnière | Vincent & Pauline Couilleau | © Justin Beckley Photography
Nice Photo Editors photos
Some cool photo editors images:
ezimba-web- Borders Random GRoovy Mirror Border
Image by krossbow
ezimba is a web site that can apply different imaging effects.
www.ezimba.com/index.html
I used one picture for all the effects just for consistency for comparison. The title for each photo consists of the category of the effect and the name of the effect. Some effects would be better used on a different image. There are some effects also that appear to do the same thing in different effect categories.
Ezimba also has a Facebook app, Google Android app, and a free iPhone app. Please note that the free iPhone app puts a small logo on the edited image. You can buy the paid ezimba app and not have the logo.
Shadowmagic Limited Edition
Some cool photo book images:
Shadowmagic Limited Edition
Image by evo_terra
John Lenahan's fantastic podiobook Shadowmagic was published by a HarperColins imprint in the UK. He not only sent me a limited edition, but he said the nicest thing inside the book. You rock, John!
She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain
Image by discoluxxx
I have too many books and not enough space. This is just a snapshot and does not truly illustrate my obsession.
(View large and add notes)
Nice Baby Picture photos
Check out these baby picture images:
Joachim
Image by Kit4na
My favourite picture to date: my son Joachim. Born 27 September
Koala Baby Pink Monster Teddy Bear
Image by Michael Kappel
Homemade Closet Organizer And
Koala Baby Pink Monster Teddy Bear
Baby Room, sanded walls
Image by Qole Pejorian
(This is the first picture of two. There's now an after picture as well.)
The walls and ceiling in the baby room were a disaster. They were terribly rough and lumpy, with big holes and cracks everywhere, and they had 5 layers of wallpaper interspersed with countless coats of paint...
So rather than throw a layer of drywall over everything, we decided to sand off all the irregularities and then fill the holes.
Well, that worked for three of the walls, and the ceiling. The fourth wall, of which you can only see a small piece on the left of the picture, started peeling, and soon I (and later, my father) had to chip off all of the wallpaper and paint, right down to the bare plaster, which saw the daylight for the first time since the late 1920's.
The majority of the work was required around two giant patches, where two big (probably beautiful) windows were removed (maybe in the 70's?) and then patched over by a blind monkey. When the sander hit the plaster patching (the white areas), the clouds of dust that came off of it made it impossible to see in the room for several minutes.
I've been here before. Many of the rooms in our house have patched over windows.
I would not recommend anyone do this. It was only after I sanded the old walls flat that I did some research and discovered that there's an excellent possibility that I put some lead dust (from old, pre-1978 leaded paint) into the air by doing this. I was wearing a respirator, and we were meticulous about clean up, but despite vaccuuming with a hepa filter, mopping everything, etc, we still are worried about the lead dust...
i love the movie Isaac's Live Lip Dub Proposal Videos of funny marriage proposal Most Popular
Check out these love image images:
i love the movie Isaac's Live Lip Dub Proposal Videos of funny marriage proposal Most Popular
Image by naiveartist
www.facebook.com/tdphotodesigns
Image by TristanDuplichainPhotography
© Tristan Duplichain Photography & Design 2012
Baby Tiger & Me
Image by Thai Jasmine (Smile..smile...Smile..)
With you in my life...
I feel the whole world full of wonderful surprise...
My baby tiger want to see you so I love to show you all our lovely images today. All shots were taken from The World 's Largest Crocodile Farm, Samutprakan where is near my house :-).
Hope you like my lovely baby tiger. Have a beautiful day. Keep on smiling ^___^
Jasmine...
***NO INVITES PLEASE***...Thanks so much for your visits and also for any comments and faves. I appreciate for all. All your words are nice awards for me. Thank you..thank you ;-)!
Boiler room
Some cool image post images:
Boiler room
Image by Neil Kremer
Don't mind if i do Kenmoauc.
I would never post this but lately I've been really disappointed by the overuse and abuse of HDR software. Over saturated colors, using the HDR software to create texture that the software isn't really meant for. Turning photographs into graphic art that a 1st year art student wouldn't turn in as homework. I'm talking about the kind of images only enjoyed by someone at a motocross event drinking Redbull with a NASCAR shirt on. (I raced Motocross for years, I can say that.) I was nothing but guilty of this just a few months ago. But I'm at least trying to move on. I see photographers that have been doing this for years and are only going backwards and it really is bad for the craft in my opinion.
With that rant over; this image was throw away but I thought I would use it to make a point. This room was almost pitch black. That window was the only light source. No camera in the world could possibly capture the light in the foreground and the palm tree outside. So at least 3 exposures from -2 to +2 are required. Keep in mind it was very dark in the room but I could faintly see the green in the foreground. By overexposing one image and leaving the shutter open 2 times longer than the cameras computer suggested I was able to Over Expose the foreground making it visible. At the same time, this over exposure "blew out" the lighted areas of the background. To get the lighted areas properly exposed, I took an exposure that was 2 times faster than the camera's computer suggested and it did the trick but the foreground was totally black. Now I have the best of both worlds.
I also took one exposure (the zero) as suggested by the computer.
That's nice, what do you do with 3 different exposures? Do you cut, blend or mask them together in PhotoShop? I could but the light wouldn't match up. It would look more like a collage than a photograph. So I use special software that utilizes an algorithm designed for the purpose of combining multiple exposures. That's it? No, the High Dynamic Range image that is created by this algorithm has created colors that fall outside of the color range of our modern day monitors and printers. Oh no, what do you do next? We "tone map" and that's where the clown vomit is created. Tone mapping is a way to reintroduce the original colors and tones of the HDR image into a format that can be view on a modern monitor or printer. The idea here is to recreate the scene as it was in reality. The problem is that some photographers take a great deal of drugs or live in fantasy land because the products they're creating are not close to anything resembling the reality of physics here on Earth or visible through the lenses of even the Hubble.
Rant over.
Now, if you look in the lower left corner you will see little dots and pieces of missing information. That's because the software isn't able to reproduce areas that where so dark the overexposure couldn't even take the light out of it. In that case I could have used a longer exposure, say -3 or I could use photoshop to recreate what I think was there. The best option in this case would be to throw the image away and never let anyone see it because it's really not interesting to look at in the first place.
www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Ghost_Adventures/Video/Lin...
Buddha Quote 107
Image by h.koppdelaney
Why do I post more than 108 Buddha Quotes? Buddha talks from “There” to “Here”. His words are messages for all seekers to remember “There”.
Those who experienced “There” realized the truth of his words and even if they fall back into “Here” they praise the truth and call it the “Key to Heaven”.
Loving kindness, the open heart is the needle eye to Paradise. Are you looking for ascension? Buddha says it very clear: “All you need is Love.”
H
This is the 107th of 108 Buddha Quotes :-)
You are welcome to share the wisdom with your friends.
HKD
Digital art based on own photography and textures
HKD
You will find me here as well:
koppdelaney.blogspot.de/
See all quotes in this set:
www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/sets/72157631016251186/
Dragon's tail
Some cool dragon image images:
Dragon's tail
Image by Daniel*1977
The above photo has been shot with the Samsung SMART CAMERA NX20, which has been provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
Dragon ribs
Image by naturalturn
The Crucible [032175]
Dragon Boat on Currumbin Creek.
Image by JIGGS IMAGES
We were out early to see the extremely high tide this morning; these dragon boat rowers were looking very colourful as they rowed along the creek.
Cool Photo Editing Websites images
A few nice photo editing websites images I found:
ASU Undies Run
Image by Charles Siritho
ASU Undies Run
For all those that are looking at these photos, please visit my website, leaving me a email is always an appreciation too :)
Always looking for hire'd work, batch editing, 2nd shooting.
www.linkedin.com/pub/charles-siritho/26/499/678
www.yelp.com/biz/charles-siritho-photography-phoenix
www.charlessiritho.com
www.facebook.com/siritho
info@charlessiritho.com
ASU Undies Run
Image by Charles Siritho
ASU Undies Run
For all those that are looking at these photos, please visit my website, leaving me a email is always an appreciation too :)
Always looking for hire'd work, batch editing, 2nd shooting.
www.linkedin.com/pub/charles-siritho/26/499/678
www.yelp.com/biz/charles-siritho-photography-phoenix
www.charlessiritho.com
www.facebook.com/siritho
info@charlessiritho.com
ASU Undies Run
Image by Charles Siritho
ASU Undies Run
For all those that are looking at these photos, please visit my website, leaving me a email is always an appreciation too :)
Always looking for hire'd work, batch editing, 2nd shooting.
www.linkedin.com/pub/charles-siritho/26/499/678
www.yelp.com/biz/charles-siritho-photography-phoenix
www.charlessiritho.com
www.facebook.com/siritho
info@charlessiritho.com
Cool Photo Editor Free images
A few nice photo editor free images I found:
2008 Summer Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Beijing, China 同一个世界 同一个梦想 - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program - FMWRC
Image by familymwr
www.armymwr.com
Olympic Opening Ceremony celebrates ‘One World, One Dream’
Date Posted: 8/12/2008
Photos and Story by Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs
(Cleared for public release)
EDITOR'S NOTE: The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) provides soldier-athletes the opportunity to compete toward qualifying for the United States Olympic team. Qualified soldiers must be nationally ranked in their chosen sport and be certified by the United States Olympic Committee at a world class level. Athletes join the program at least three years before the Olympic Trials. To be eligible for the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, soldiers must currently be a member of the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. Soldiers must also be eligible to represent the USA in international competitions and demonstrate the potential to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team or U.S. Paralympic Team.
BEIJING – The elaborate Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad featured a display of China’s long and distinguished history and culture intertwined with the “One World, One Dream” theme of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
“Beijing, you are host to the present and the gateway to the future,” International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge proclaimed before a sellout crowd of 91,000 at National Stadium on Aug. 8. “Thank you.”
An audience of 400,000,000 was expected to watch the spectacle on television.
“Friends have come from afar, how happy we are,” is a well-known saying of Confucius (551 BC-479 BC), a famous Chinese educator and thinker whose thoughts deeply influenced later generations.
U.S. President Bush and wife Laura were among more than 80 world dignitaries in attendance, along with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Bush became the first U.S. president to attend an Olympic Games outside of the United States while serving as Commander in Chief. His father, George H.W. Bush, the 41st U.S. president, also made history by occupying the chair of Chef de Mission of the U.S. Olympic Team, marking the first time the U.S. Olympic Committee has had an honorary chief of the mission.
The four-hour extravaganza featured 110 minutes of music, beginning with the fou, the most ancient Chinese percussion instrument made of clay or bronze. Manned by 2,008 performers, the fou-produced sound of rolling spring thunder greeted friends from all over the world.
The music was specially created by 18 composers for a production that displayed 15,153 sets of costumes in 47 styles. Some of the performers rehearsed for 13 months in preparation for one of China’s most magical nights.
Six hundred people were involved in the installation, direction, and safety supervision for a display of 11,456 fireworks set off from from 287 points atop the stadium and 8,428 more from 27 positions in the central area. Another 1,462 glowing and sparkling fireworks illuminated the upper rim of the stadium.
Gunpowder was invented in China during the Song Dynasty (960 AD-1276 AD). People used the ingredients for gunpowder as medicines for illnesses in ancient times; hence the name “gunpowder,” means “burning medicines.” The invention of gunpowder is one of China’s outstanding achievements in the history of human civilization that changed the course of world history.
A painting scroll revealed the origin and development of China’s history and culture. Paper is another of the four great inventions of ancient China. As one child sang “A Hymn to My Country,” 56 children clustered around the National Flag of the People’s Republic of China to represent the country’s 56 ethnic groups. Immediately following, the famous Chinese painting “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” was visible on the stadium floor while the ancient stringed instrument, Guqin, provided the “Sounds of Utmost Antiquity.”
Cliff painting, earth pottery and bronze vessels were displayed to reflect artistic developments of the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) and Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-221 BC).
The Great Wall was illustrated by smooth lines, both concise and vivid, with peach blossoms, romantic and enjoyable, that illustrated the sweet wishes of peace-loving Chinese people.
The “Silk Road” was an important vehicle for economic and cultural exchange between China and Western countries. More than 2,000 years ago, trade caravans of China set out from Chang’an (now Xi’an in Shaanxi Province) with expensive silk, crossed the Hexi Corridor, and entered the European continent.
More than 600 years ago, Zheng He of Ming Dynasty led seven shipping fleets with 27,000 people aboard a long voyage from Quanzhou that arrived in Western Asia and Eastern Africa, thus creating the well-known “Maritime Silk Road.” On opening night, a performer held an ancient compass, another of the four great inventions of ancient China.
In a later segment, Chinese pianist Lang Lang and 5-year-old Li Muzi welcomed a brand-new age. Lang is the first Chinese pianist to have long-term cooperation with first-class orchestras in Berlin and Vienna. He has played recitals in many of the most famous music halls in the world. During that performance, the kite was introduced as another Chinese invention.
An exhibition of Taiji manifested the integration of traditions and the future by illustrating the unity of man and nature. Taijiquan is the most representative shadow boxing among Chinese martial arts, characterized by the “combination of the dynamic and static and the interdependence of hardness and softness.”
The Eight Diagrams of Taiji symbolize eight natural phenomena – heaven, earth, thunder, wind, water, fire, mountain and swamp – that represent the changes of all things on earth. A total of 2,008 Taiji performers formed a circle that illustrated grandness and consummation in the traditional Chinese concept.
As the program progressed, the smiling faces of children from around the world demonstrated the theme of “One World, One Dream.” A gigantic, 16-ton globe arose from the floor, adorned with 58 actors running on nine rings covered with an Olympic Torch pattern. The runners seemingly were free from gravity and full of magic, fantasy and bravery.
The march of nations featured Olympic athletes from 205 countries, led into the stadium by Greece (in accordance with tradition). The host team from China concluded the march of nations.
As Team USA entered they clearly received the loudest ovation of the evening – until Houston Rockets basketball star Yao Ming led the Chinese contingent into the stadium.
The throng representing 596 U.S. athletes occupied more than 100 meters of the running track. As U.S. Flag Bearer Lopez Lomong was rounding the turn, members of Team USA were still filing into the arena from the opposite end of the stadium.
After eight Chinese Olympians carried the Olympic Flag into the stadium, the banner was raised and The Olympic Anthem was played. Athletes' and officials' oaths were read, symbolic doves were released, and the Olympic Torch Relay concluded a 33-day journey abroad that covered 97,000 kilometers across five continents and 21 countries.
Chinese Olympic gymnast Li Ning ran 500 meters in about three minutes around the wall of the open-air stadium’s inner roof in what was possibly the most fascinating sight of the night. Supported by a cable, Ning at times appeared to be running on air before lighting the cauldron.
“Many would say that the Olympic Games are of great significance and have profound meanings,” said opening ceremony artistic director Zhang Yimou. “But I once heard someone say: ‘They are all our guests. We should make them happy.’”
"This answer, simple as it is, tells us that we are of one big family. The Opening Ceremony demonstrates the same spirit as we find in the theme song of the ceremony: You and me, from one world; we are family.
“I have never led such a huge team, with so many performers, staff and volunteers. You may not be able to see their faces clearly in this grand stadium and their names may not be printed on this beautiful brochure, but I know how hard they worked for tonight. At this very moment, what do they want to say to you, our distinguished guests, and to the audience all over the world? There is only one simple sentence: ‘From the bottom of my heart, I hope you will enjoy yourselves.’”
www.armymwr.com
2008 Summer Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Beijing, China 同一个世界 同一个梦想 - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program - FMWRC
Image by familymwr
www.armymwr.com
Olympic Opening Ceremony celebrates ‘One World, One Dream’
Date Posted: 8/12/2008
Photos and Story by Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs
(Cleared for public release)
EDITOR'S NOTE: The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) provides soldier-athletes the opportunity to compete toward qualifying for the United States Olympic team. Qualified soldiers must be nationally ranked in their chosen sport and be certified by the United States Olympic Committee at a world class level. Athletes join the program at least three years before the Olympic Trials. To be eligible for the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, soldiers must currently be a member of the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. Soldiers must also be eligible to represent the USA in international competitions and demonstrate the potential to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team or U.S. Paralympic Team.
BEIJING – The elaborate Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad featured a display of China’s long and distinguished history and culture intertwined with the “One World, One Dream” theme of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
“Beijing, you are host to the present and the gateway to the future,” International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge proclaimed before a sellout crowd of 91,000 at National Stadium on Aug. 8. “Thank you.”
An audience of 400,000,000 was expected to watch the spectacle on television.
“Friends have come from afar, how happy we are,” is a well-known saying of Confucius (551 BC-479 BC), a famous Chinese educator and thinker whose thoughts deeply influenced later generations.
U.S. President Bush and wife Laura were among more than 80 world dignitaries in attendance, along with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Bush became the first U.S. president to attend an Olympic Games outside of the United States while serving as Commander in Chief. His father, George H.W. Bush, the 41st U.S. president, also made history by occupying the chair of Chef de Mission of the U.S. Olympic Team, marking the first time the U.S. Olympic Committee has had an honorary chief of the mission.
The four-hour extravaganza featured 110 minutes of music, beginning with the fou, the most ancient Chinese percussion instrument made of clay or bronze. Manned by 2,008 performers, the fou-produced sound of rolling spring thunder greeted friends from all over the world.
The music was specially created by 18 composers for a production that displayed 15,153 sets of costumes in 47 styles. Some of the performers rehearsed for 13 months in preparation for one of China’s most magical nights.
Six hundred people were involved in the installation, direction, and safety supervision for a display of 11,456 fireworks set off from from 287 points atop the stadium and 8,428 more from 27 positions in the central area. Another 1,462 glowing and sparkling fireworks illuminated the upper rim of the stadium.
Gunpowder was invented in China during the Song Dynasty (960 AD-1276 AD). People used the ingredients for gunpowder as medicines for illnesses in ancient times; hence the name “gunpowder,” means “burning medicines.” The invention of gunpowder is one of China’s outstanding achievements in the history of human civilization that changed the course of world history.
A painting scroll revealed the origin and development of China’s history and culture. Paper is another of the four great inventions of ancient China. As one child sang “A Hymn to My Country,” 56 children clustered around the National Flag of the People’s Republic of China to represent the country’s 56 ethnic groups. Immediately following, the famous Chinese painting “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” was visible on the stadium floor while the ancient stringed instrument, Guqin, provided the “Sounds of Utmost Antiquity.”
Cliff painting, earth pottery and bronze vessels were displayed to reflect artistic developments of the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) and Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-221 BC).
The Great Wall was illustrated by smooth lines, both concise and vivid, with peach blossoms, romantic and enjoyable, that illustrated the sweet wishes of peace-loving Chinese people.
The “Silk Road” was an important vehicle for economic and cultural exchange between China and Western countries. More than 2,000 years ago, trade caravans of China set out from Chang’an (now Xi’an in Shaanxi Province) with expensive silk, crossed the Hexi Corridor, and entered the European continent.
More than 600 years ago, Zheng He of Ming Dynasty led seven shipping fleets with 27,000 people aboard a long voyage from Quanzhou that arrived in Western Asia and Eastern Africa, thus creating the well-known “Maritime Silk Road.” On opening night, a performer held an ancient compass, another of the four great inventions of ancient China.
In a later segment, Chinese pianist Lang Lang and 5-year-old Li Muzi welcomed a brand-new age. Lang is the first Chinese pianist to have long-term cooperation with first-class orchestras in Berlin and Vienna. He has played recitals in many of the most famous music halls in the world. During that performance, the kite was introduced as another Chinese invention.
An exhibition of Taiji manifested the integration of traditions and the future by illustrating the unity of man and nature. Taijiquan is the most representative shadow boxing among Chinese martial arts, characterized by the “combination of the dynamic and static and the interdependence of hardness and softness.”
The Eight Diagrams of Taiji symbolize eight natural phenomena – heaven, earth, thunder, wind, water, fire, mountain and swamp – that represent the changes of all things on earth. A total of 2,008 Taiji performers formed a circle that illustrated grandness and consummation in the traditional Chinese concept.
As the program progressed, the smiling faces of children from around the world demonstrated the theme of “One World, One Dream.” A gigantic, 16-ton globe arose from the floor, adorned with 58 actors running on nine rings covered with an Olympic Torch pattern. The runners seemingly were free from gravity and full of magic, fantasy and bravery.
The march of nations featured Olympic athletes from 205 countries, led into the stadium by Greece (in accordance with tradition). The host team from China concluded the march of nations.
As Team USA entered they clearly received the loudest ovation of the evening – until Houston Rockets basketball star Yao Ming led the Chinese contingent into the stadium.
The throng representing 596 U.S. athletes occupied more than 100 meters of the running track. As U.S. Flag Bearer Lopez Lomong was rounding the turn, members of Team USA were still filing into the arena from the opposite end of the stadium.
After eight Chinese Olympians carried the Olympic Flag into the stadium, the banner was raised and The Olympic Anthem was played. Athletes' and officials' oaths were read, symbolic doves were released, and the Olympic Torch Relay concluded a 33-day journey abroad that covered 97,000 kilometers across five continents and 21 countries.
Chinese Olympic gymnast Li Ning ran 500 meters in about three minutes around the wall of the open-air stadium’s inner roof in what was possibly the most fascinating sight of the night. Supported by a cable, Ning at times appeared to be running on air before lighting the cauldron.
“Many would say that the Olympic Games are of great significance and have profound meanings,” said opening ceremony artistic director Zhang Yimou. “But I once heard someone say: ‘They are all our guests. We should make them happy.’”
"This answer, simple as it is, tells us that we are of one big family. The Opening Ceremony demonstrates the same spirit as we find in the theme song of the ceremony: You and me, from one world; we are family.
“I have never led such a huge team, with so many performers, staff and volunteers. You may not be able to see their faces clearly in this grand stadium and their names may not be printed on this beautiful brochure, but I know how hard they worked for tonight. At this very moment, what do they want to say to you, our distinguished guests, and to the audience all over the world? There is only one simple sentence: ‘From the bottom of my heart, I hope you will enjoy yourselves.’”
www.armymwr.com
2008 Summer Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Beijing, China 同一个世界 同一个梦想 - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program - FMWRC
Image by familymwr
www.armymwr.com
Olympic Opening Ceremony celebrates ‘One World, One Dream’
Date Posted: 8/12/2008
Photos and Story by Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs
(Cleared for public release)
EDITOR'S NOTE: The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) provides soldier-athletes the opportunity to compete toward qualifying for the United States Olympic team. Qualified soldiers must be nationally ranked in their chosen sport and be certified by the United States Olympic Committee at a world class level. Athletes join the program at least three years before the Olympic Trials. To be eligible for the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, soldiers must currently be a member of the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. Soldiers must also be eligible to represent the USA in international competitions and demonstrate the potential to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team or U.S. Paralympic Team.
BEIJING – The elaborate Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad featured a display of China’s long and distinguished history and culture intertwined with the “One World, One Dream” theme of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
“Beijing, you are host to the present and the gateway to the future,” International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge proclaimed before a sellout crowd of 91,000 at National Stadium on Aug. 8. “Thank you.”
An audience of 400,000,000 was expected to watch the spectacle on television.
“Friends have come from afar, how happy we are,” is a well-known saying of Confucius (551 BC-479 BC), a famous Chinese educator and thinker whose thoughts deeply influenced later generations.
U.S. President Bush and wife Laura were among more than 80 world dignitaries in attendance, along with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Bush became the first U.S. president to attend an Olympic Games outside of the United States while serving as Commander in Chief. His father, George H.W. Bush, the 41st U.S. president, also made history by occupying the chair of Chef de Mission of the U.S. Olympic Team, marking the first time the U.S. Olympic Committee has had an honorary chief of the mission.
The four-hour extravaganza featured 110 minutes of music, beginning with the fou, the most ancient Chinese percussion instrument made of clay or bronze. Manned by 2,008 performers, the fou-produced sound of rolling spring thunder greeted friends from all over the world.
The music was specially created by 18 composers for a production that displayed 15,153 sets of costumes in 47 styles. Some of the performers rehearsed for 13 months in preparation for one of China’s most magical nights.
Six hundred people were involved in the installation, direction, and safety supervision for a display of 11,456 fireworks set off from from 287 points atop the stadium and 8,428 more from 27 positions in the central area. Another 1,462 glowing and sparkling fireworks illuminated the upper rim of the stadium.
Gunpowder was invented in China during the Song Dynasty (960 AD-1276 AD). People used the ingredients for gunpowder as medicines for illnesses in ancient times; hence the name “gunpowder,” means “burning medicines.” The invention of gunpowder is one of China’s outstanding achievements in the history of human civilization that changed the course of world history.
A painting scroll revealed the origin and development of China’s history and culture. Paper is another of the four great inventions of ancient China. As one child sang “A Hymn to My Country,” 56 children clustered around the National Flag of the People’s Republic of China to represent the country’s 56 ethnic groups. Immediately following, the famous Chinese painting “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” was visible on the stadium floor while the ancient stringed instrument, Guqin, provided the “Sounds of Utmost Antiquity.”
Cliff painting, earth pottery and bronze vessels were displayed to reflect artistic developments of the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) and Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-221 BC).
The Great Wall was illustrated by smooth lines, both concise and vivid, with peach blossoms, romantic and enjoyable, that illustrated the sweet wishes of peace-loving Chinese people.
The “Silk Road” was an important vehicle for economic and cultural exchange between China and Western countries. More than 2,000 years ago, trade caravans of China set out from Chang’an (now Xi’an in Shaanxi Province) with expensive silk, crossed the Hexi Corridor, and entered the European continent.
More than 600 years ago, Zheng He of Ming Dynasty led seven shipping fleets with 27,000 people aboard a long voyage from Quanzhou that arrived in Western Asia and Eastern Africa, thus creating the well-known “Maritime Silk Road.” On opening night, a performer held an ancient compass, another of the four great inventions of ancient China.
In a later segment, Chinese pianist Lang Lang and 5-year-old Li Muzi welcomed a brand-new age. Lang is the first Chinese pianist to have long-term cooperation with first-class orchestras in Berlin and Vienna. He has played recitals in many of the most famous music halls in the world. During that performance, the kite was introduced as another Chinese invention.
An exhibition of Taiji manifested the integration of traditions and the future by illustrating the unity of man and nature. Taijiquan is the most representative shadow boxing among Chinese martial arts, characterized by the “combination of the dynamic and static and the interdependence of hardness and softness.”
The Eight Diagrams of Taiji symbolize eight natural phenomena – heaven, earth, thunder, wind, water, fire, mountain and swamp – that represent the changes of all things on earth. A total of 2,008 Taiji performers formed a circle that illustrated grandness and consummation in the traditional Chinese concept.
As the program progressed, the smiling faces of children from around the world demonstrated the theme of “One World, One Dream.” A gigantic, 16-ton globe arose from the floor, adorned with 58 actors running on nine rings covered with an Olympic Torch pattern. The runners seemingly were free from gravity and full of magic, fantasy and bravery.
The march of nations featured Olympic athletes from 205 countries, led into the stadium by Greece (in accordance with tradition). The host team from China concluded the march of nations.
As Team USA entered they clearly received the loudest ovation of the evening – until Houston Rockets basketball star Yao Ming led the Chinese contingent into the stadium.
The throng representing 596 U.S. athletes occupied more than 100 meters of the running track. As U.S. Flag Bearer Lopez Lomong was rounding the turn, members of Team USA were still filing into the arena from the opposite end of the stadium.
After eight Chinese Olympians carried the Olympic Flag into the stadium, the banner was raised and The Olympic Anthem was played. Athletes' and officials' oaths were read, symbolic doves were released, and the Olympic Torch Relay concluded a 33-day journey abroad that covered 97,000 kilometers across five continents and 21 countries.
Chinese Olympic gymnast Li Ning ran 500 meters in about three minutes around the wall of the open-air stadium’s inner roof in what was possibly the most fascinating sight of the night. Supported by a cable, Ning at times appeared to be running on air before lighting the cauldron.
“Many would say that the Olympic Games are of great significance and have profound meanings,” said opening ceremony artistic director Zhang Yimou. “But I once heard someone say: ‘They are all our guests. We should make them happy.’”
"This answer, simple as it is, tells us that we are of one big family. The Opening Ceremony demonstrates the same spirit as we find in the theme song of the ceremony: You and me, from one world; we are family.
“I have never led such a huge team, with so many performers, staff and volunteers. You may not be able to see their faces clearly in this grand stadium and their names may not be printed on this beautiful brochure, but I know how hard they worked for tonight. At this very moment, what do they want to say to you, our distinguished guests, and to the audience all over the world? There is only one simple sentence: ‘From the bottom of my heart, I hope you will enjoy yourselves.’”
www.armymwr.com
Grandson in front of burning bush, Mom's house
Check out these photo sizes images:
Grandson in front of burning bush, Mom's house
Image by Martin LaBar
Our younger grandson, Mr. Cheerful Perpetual Motion, about 21 months old, holding still, for once, in front of his great-grandmother's house. I'm glad that his mother brought him. The two of us were just wandering around, enjoying ourselves, while his mother, grandmother, and aunt were looking over the house.
That's a burning bush, Euonymus alatus, in the background. They are splendid in the fall. That's a lamb's quarters, Chenopodium album, draped over his right shoulder. It is showing some fall color, too, which can be seen better at the larger sizes.
His brother stayed home.
I am pleased to be the curator of a Euonymus gallery, which has fine photos from other Flickr members.
Poison ivy leaf, autumn color, with galls
Image by Martin LaBar
I have been allergic to poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans, for decades. I'm pretty good at recognizing it, and staying away from it. But I saw this plant on a walk through our neighborhood, and thought that the leaves looked sufficiently bizarre that they were worth a close photo. The plant is in its autumn colors -- poison ivy can be spectacular in the fall -- and many or all of the leaves were infected with little growths. I looked the growths up, and they are said to be galls -- part of the plant tissue, co-opted by the insect to provide protection for it -- caused by a mite, Aculops, the poison ivy leaf gall mite.
The holes were apparently due to galls on the other side of the leaf.
I enhanced the contrast a little with The Gimp.
Larger sizes available, if you want closer weirdness. I have also posted a close-up photo of a leaf from the same plant. See my comment, below, to access it.
Thanks for all your views! I am please to report that two of my galleries are at 1,000 or more views, and another one is less than 12 away from that number. (Note added later - one of my galleries has had over 3,000 views, and two others, over 1,000. Thanks!)
Nice Free Photo Software photos
Check out these free photo software images:
Wire Googles Photo: Cabinet of Curiosities
Image by Ryan Somma
Taken with the Wire Goggles App by dozingcatsoftware.com
Creative Commons licensed photo by ideonexus.com, please feel free to reuse for any purpose.
Wire Googles Photo: Vicky
Image by Ryan Somma
Taken with the Wire Goggles App by dozingcatsoftware.com
Creative Commons licensed photo by ideonexus.com, please feel free to reuse for any purpose.
Pig
A few nice upload photo images I found:
Pig
Image by Auntie P
Just uploaded a selection of 25 photos to show I'm still alive and taking photos, even though I've not been Flickring much lately. See here for most of the reasons I've been 'away'. Hope to be back in full action very soon! I miss everyone.
Taken at Godshill - there were lots of free range pigs frolicking in the sunshine.
I looked at my kingdom, I was finally there, To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air
Image by slimmer_jimmer
last upload of Mr Smith, who featured a few times at my local fun fair. See my set dedicated to the Fresh Prince
Holga 120S + Kodak Ektachrome E100G + xpro
Dev+Scan free of charge by West End Cameras (I won one of their photo-of-the-week contests in their flickr group).
Medieval Grub
Image by Auntie P
Just uploaded a selection of 25 photos to show I'm still alive and taking photos, even though I've not been Flickring much lately. See here for most of the reasons I've been 'away'. Hope to be back in full action very soon! I miss everyone.
This was taken at a Medieval Re-enactment weekend on the island recently at Appuldurcombe House
Big Omaha 2011 Photo Booth
Check out these photo booth images:
Big Omaha 2011 Photo Booth
Image by Silicon Prairie News
Big Omaha 2011 Photo Booth
Image by Silicon Prairie News
Fire Island Ernie and Dave
A few nice fun photos images I found:
Fire Island Ernie and Dave
Image by david_shankbone
My birthday weekend at Fire Island was incredibly fun, full of good people and good times. I'll upload more shots, but my cameraphone kind of sucks, so no DSLR quality. Still, there are some pretty cool and crazy photos.
(About David Shankbone)
Fire Island Rob and Ernie
Image by david_shankbone
My birthday weekend at Fire Island was incredibly fun, full of good people and good times. I'll upload more shots, but my cameraphone kind of sucks, so no DSLR quality. Still, there are some pretty cool and crazy photos.
(About David Shankbone)
Nice Image Share photos
Some cool image share images:
Young Woman at Casa Hemingway - Havana - Cuba
Image by Adam Jones, Ph.D. - Global Photo Archive
ezimba-web- Borders Textured Frame - Silver
A few nice photo editing sites images I found:
ezimba-web- Borders Textured Frame - Silver
Image by krossbow
ezimba is a web site that can apply different imaging effects.
www.ezimba.com/index.html
I used one picture for all the effects just for consistency for comparison. The title for each photo consists of the category of the effect and the name of the effect. Some effects would be better used on a different image. There are some effects also that appear to do the same thing in different effect categories.
Ezimba also has a Facebook app, Google Android app, and a free iPhone app. Please note that the free iPhone app puts a small logo on the edited image. You can buy the paid ezimba app and not have the logo.
ezimba-web- Blends Broadcast Yourself
Image by krossbow
ezimba is a web site that can apply different imaging effects.
www.ezimba.com/index.html
I used one picture for all the effects just for consistency for comparison. The title for each photo consists of the category of the effect and the name of the effect. Some effects would be better used on a different image. There are some effects also that appear to do the same thing in different effect categories.
Ezimba also has a Facebook app, Google Android app, and a free iPhone app. Please note that the free iPhone app puts a small logo on the edited image. You can buy the paid ezimba app and not have the logo.
Sunset Over Earth (NASA, International Space Station Science, 06/03/07)
A few nice earth image images I found:
Sunset Over Earth (NASA, International Space Station Science, 06/03/07)
Image by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
The profile of the atmosphere and a setting sun are featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 15 crewmember on the International Space Station.
Image/caption credit: NASA
Read full caption:
spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-15/html/...
More about the Crew Earth Observation experiment aboard the International Space Station:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/CE...
More about space station science:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/index.html
There's a Flickr group about Space Station Science. Please feel welcome to join! www.flickr.com/groups/stationscience/
Crescent Moon, Earth's Airglow (NASA, International Space Station, 12/01/03)
Image by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
Editor's Note: I always like to find a "treat" image on Fridays, even if I have to go back pretty far into the archives for "space eye candy." This is an archive image from 2003. Have a good weekend, y'all!
A partial moon is visible in this view of Earth’s horizon and airglow, photographed by an Expedition 8 crewmember on the International Space Station (ISS).
Image credit: NASA
View original image/caption:
spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-8/html/i...
More about space station research:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/index.html
There's a Flickr group about Space Station Research. Please feel welcome to join! www.flickr.com/groups/stationscience/
Nice Photo Share photos
A few nice photo share images I found:
Value Unused = Waste
Image by Kevin Krejci
My Grandma always said "waste not, want not"... Lisa Gansky has written the book on the subject. Check out her excellent: "The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing"
Photo taken at Web 2.0 Summit 2010 in San Francisco, CA.
Board at work
Image by Christmas w/a K
My bulletin board door at work - top is some fave images; bottom is mindful work content. Latest addition is the set of re-purposed business cards, inspired by hipster PDA and slip method. I wrote those up in my first weeks, and after a year - these themes hold up completely. Now posted for Constant Vigilance!
Georgia Chaplain, Shepherd of good will at Atlas Drop, April 2011
Image by US Army Africa
A young boy smiles during a visit by Chaplain (Capt.) Andy Shepherd of Moreland, Ga., 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, Georgia National Guard, and other U.S. Soldiers to the Ududui Primary School near Soroti, Uganda, April 15.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brock Jones, 128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Utah Army National Guard
To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil
Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica
Official Vimeo video channel: www.vimeo.com/usarmyafrica
Join the U.S. Army Africa conversation on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArmyAfrica
Training in remote areas like the one in Soroti, Uganda, for Atlas Drop 11
gives U.S. and host-nation Soldiers the opportunity to share knowledge, tactics and skills. The training is rigorous; days are often long and the nights short.
Maintaining the spiritual needs of Soldiers is an important task, the responsibility of chaplains and their assistants.
Chaplain (Capt.) Andy Shepherd of Moreland, Ga., a chaplain assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, Georgia National Guard, and his assistant, Sgt. Desmond Manning of Stockbridge, Ga., spent their time during Atlas Drop 11 attending to the spiritual needs of U.S. Soldiers and provided counseling services.
Their job didn’t end at the edge of the drop zone; both Shepherd and Manning reached out to the surrounding communities.
“I just went out one day walking downtown to pick up some supplies,” said Shepherd. “The locals were really glad to see us, and that really just touched my heart. That really just put a drive in me to go visit more people out in the community to let them know we’re here and that we care — and as a chaplain, as a Christian — just to show the love of God and that I do care, that I am concerned.”
That first walk around Soroti sparked a desire in Shepherd and Manning to get out more and meet people and visit schools, churches and orphanages to assess their needs and what they could do to help. Since that first walk they played soccer and prayed with school children, talked to numerous clergy from various faiths about their ministries and shook hundreds of hands. This was all this in addition to taking care of and talking to Ugandan and U.S. Soldiers.
Shepherd said the people of the Soroti area have touched his heart during his short stay.
“Going out into the community has really affected me in several ways,” he said. “One, it has really humbled me as a person, to see how the people live here and how they are so happy and enjoying life with so little. And also it has really affected me spiritually. I have been touched and challenged to, even when I leave here, continue to give to some of the places that I have visited. I feel just kind of challenged to do more.”
Manning said he was deeply moved by the people he has met and the lives they lead.
“It’s really touched me just to see the kinds of conditions the people live in. It’s something that I will take with me the rest of my life,” he said. “I go to bed and I cannot sleep. I just lie there going over all the things I saw during the day.”
In coming to Uganda, Manning was focused on providing spiritual support for Soldiers, but after going out and meeting people and seeing the conditions in the schools, his desire to also provide spiritually for the people in Soroti grew.
“Maybe we cannot give them the material things that they need, but we can provide them a little support and let them know that there’s a God, that there’s hope,” he said. “That’s what we do as chaplains and chaplain assistants: We reach out not just to our people, but we go out there and give what support we can give.”
When Atlas Drop 11 ends, Shepherd and Manning will both return to Georgia, having done their best to follow the scriptural admonitions of going the extra mile and succoring the weak that they believe in deeply. It is also likely that both of them would say that they wish they could have done more.
“This experience in Uganda has also been a blessing to me, to experience the people here and how they have so much hope with the few resources they have,” said Shepherd. “It has really challenged me to figure out ways to minister and show the love of God to the Ugandans. I have been very fortunate to have this experience. I think it’s something that I will never forget.”
Nice Online Photo Editor photos
Some cool online photo editor images:
Brooke Renney, Florida State University
Image by Village Square
Photo credit: Bob Howard
Tallahassee city commissioners and Leon County commissioners assembled for an annual town hall meeting on April 4th, 2013. Moderated by Tallahassee Democrat editor Bob Gabordi, they talked about our hometown and took questions for the audience.
The program was hosted by the Village Square, Leadership Tallahassee and the Tallahassee Democrat.
You can find audio for the program and other details online here:
wiki.tothevillagesquare.org/x/IwBXAQ
Kristen Dozier, County Commission
Image by Village Square
Photo credit: Bob Howard
Tallahassee city commissioners and Leon County commissioners assembled for an annual town hall meeting on April 4th, 2013. Moderated by Tallahassee Democrat editor Bob Gabordi, they talked about our hometown and took questions for the audience.
The program was hosted by the Village Square, Leadership Tallahassee and the Tallahassee Democrat.
You can find audio for the program and other details online here:
wiki.tothevillagesquare.org/x/IwBXAQ
Our Town: Local Leadership Forum 2013
Image by Village Square
Photo credit: Bob Howard
Tallahassee city commissioners and Leon County commissioners assembled for an annual town hall meeting on April 4th, 2013. Moderated by Tallahassee Democrat editor Bob Gabordi, they talked about our hometown and took questions for the audience.
The program was hosted by the Village Square, Leadership Tallahassee and the Tallahassee Democrat.
You can find audio for the program and other details online here:
wiki.tothevillagesquare.org/x/IwBXAQ
(animated stereo) The Unconquered Shoe Lace, Circa 1900
Check out these image search images:
(animated stereo) The Unconquered Shoe Lace, Circa 1900
Image by Thiophene_Guy
To see the animated image scroll down to the first comment (below).
Details and History
This stereoview is from a short lived publisher of original images in business from 1890-1905.
Obverse text:
the Unconquered Shoe Lace
International Stereoscopic View Co.
New York City, USA
Quick Links to Related images
View source stereoview
See all images by the International Stereoscopic View Co.
Copyright Advisory
The original image has no indicated copyright but is believed published before 1905. All copyrightable material published before 1923 in the United States is now in the public domain due to expiration of the copyright. The derivative works presented here are placed under creative commons license with the assumption the above is true.
Technical trivia
Image manipulations and gif generation performed with StereoPhotoMaker, a freeware program by Masuji Suto & David Sykes.
CPCães
Image by André Gustavo Stumpf
Companhia de Policiamento com Cães
Batalhão de Operações Especiais
Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal
Lei do Direito Autoral nº 9.610, de 19 de Fevereiro de 1998: proibe a reprodução ou divulgação com fins comerciais ou não, em qualquer meio de comunicação, inclusive na Internet, sem prévia consulta e aprovação do autor.
Reproduction prohibited. © All rights reserved. Image protected by the Brazilian Copyright Law No. 9610 19/02/1998
Contato: degu.sasf@gmail.com
