Thursday Thoughts – Bratonia Toscane

You who know me, know my love for orchids. In flower now is Bratonia Toscane –

a delicate dancer in my room.

As I am testing my new camera, I took a series of shots from different angles and in different light. The first two against the TV, then moved to the window for the other two.

I even tried Nik on this last one. Which one do you prefer?

Thursday’s Special: Pair

Paula, at Lost in Translation, gave us a pair of pears for inspiration – here are my pairs: A pair of old party shoes and some phalaenopsis orchids.

 

WPC: A Face in the Crowd

 

Erica, at WordPress, gives us the task to show anonymity, a face in the crowd – referring to the days when she was too afraid to ask people for a photo. I am still there…but on my way to overcome it. I still take photos from behind though, or with a long lens, if I am not in the mood for asking.

This series, taken some years ago on the beach( in a warmer country than mine) shows how well we can express ourselves – even in the anonymity of silhouettes.

Keep an eye on the man…

…..how he expresses himself…

 

New Fuji Camera – Old Apple Tree

My old apple tree is slowly dying

He has always been there, as a Warden Spirit, long before we bought this house

He is greatly loved by moss and lichen – and the birdhouse is always inhabited

The old tree is hosting many species, many worlds

But, last year, only one single apple managed to grow on these moldering branches

This spring might be his last one – what will happen to all his guests?

CFFC: Birds

Who does not love birds?

For Cee this week – a nesting stork on top of an old church ruin in Spain.

Harpy Eagle (Americas)

I love those big birds of prey, like the Harpy. Frightening but beautiful. They call this bird the most cruel bird of prey.

Eagle owls are very big – and beautiful – too. These two shots are from Walsrode bird park, the biggest park in Europe (at least).

 

Thursday Thoughts

I cannot stop thinking of the school shooting in Florida. I just – know, this Must be stopped. There must be and end to this. What are we doing to our young?

I don’t have any solutions – but someone Must have. Someone is payed to have. We all know that there is something very, very wrong with a society that creates these disasters. Many of our young suffer from mental problems. In Sweden you will find them in every school, in every class. Every week we can read about this in new scientific articles, hear about it on the radio and see it on TV. As a teacher – I know. And mental illness combined with guns or other weapons…cannot but lead to disasters.

In Sweden we have to have a license to buy and own a weapon. Our weapons are meant for hunting animals in the forest – moose, deer, pigs, birds and others. The weapon must be kept dismantled and in a safe. This law saves us from the worst disasters.

People can get shot over here as well – but so far we have avoided mass shootings.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families.