Mars Is Calling !

I had photos from my latest adventure and then saw one of the following pictures on the news and could not resist going to the NASA website to show you a few more. These are all photos taken by the latest generation of Mars Rover and they are clear beyond belief. I was more than happy to adhere to their requirement and say that these photos have been provided Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech. As usual click each photo for a better view. 

Before we get into a look at the surface some history is in order. Here is a picture of three generations of Rovers. While you almost expect to see R2-D2 they are not far from fiction becoming reality and look quite close to what we have seen in the movies.

Next, comes a view of the current Rover. The photo almost looks like a fractal as you view the various panels. I guess a lot of that has to do with the way they have pieced together various pictures to provide a complete image. 

And now, lets go for a trip on the surface. Here is a low light image. You can see parts of the Rover that took the image.

Talking about R2-D2, my favorite is this one that once again has been stitched together to create one image. You can clearly make out the tracks of the Rover in the background as it drove to get to this spot. Salvador Dali would have loved this view!

I'm sure we will be seeing more pictures as I am certain NASA scientists are having great fun shifting through the data. There were also loads of multimedia examples of Rover's work, so if you have a moment, jump over to the Mars Exploration Rover Mission from the highlighted link and be even more amazed because Mars is now calling!

The Ark Has Finally Landed!

The last week has been challenging to say the least. We all expected Tropical Storm Debby, which usually means a few days of rain and wind. What no one expected was days and days of unending, monsoon like rain. I've included some photos to show why it felt like we were on the ark waiting to finally hit land.

A road near my house that I travel a lot. A sinkhole developed, became overloaded, and gave way. I find it amazing because just the day before I was driving down this street.

Another intersection I use a good deal looks almost unreal. It has the strange look that cars have  been driven into a  lake.  You would never know this is an entrance to the interstate highway.

You have to feel for the person in this car (this almost happened to me but I was helped by people in the street who showed me the high point of the street). It was scary to say the least.

  

But in every bad situation there is always someone able to make lemonade out of lemons. This young man looks like he is having the time of his life floating down the middle of his street.

And so the ark has finally landed as the water slowly begins to draw down. Now comes the mosquitoes breeding in all that water!

Really Surreal?

I stumbled upon a book on the history of photography and have found myself deeply engrossed and fascinated by it. I particularly like the surrealists which strikes me as odd. I say odd because I am generally a purist regarding the pictures I take and refuse to do anything to them other than cropping (Photoshop is the antichrist!). But something about what I was seeing struck a chord and I realized I could manipulate my photos  to provide a whole new meaning to the term "mind's eye". As usual, click each photo for a better view. 

What really surprised me about this whole affair is that I could let my mind run wild and see orchids as butterflies.

flowers as balls,

a wet leaf as a road traveled by rain drops,

a pier as a twisted road,

and parts of a bamboo shade as whirls.

This little experiment has opened a whole new world for me. And, while I'm not ready to run out and buy Photoshop I will admit to being willing to see the world in a different way.

Flying With A Crane

I saw this video and had to share it. As someone who is afraid of heights and continually has to work to overcome it, the thought of being able to take a camera into a crane operating 1,100 feet in the air is both exciting and overwhelming.

I love encountering new situations where I can use my camera to get a bird's eye view of anything. But, how would you feel if you had to do that everyday?

Take a look...

Forever Gone... But Not Forgotten

Memorial Day is generally seen as the start of the Summer traveling season in America, and sadly many forget the other reason for the holiday. Thinking about the upcoming event, I remembered that a National Cemetery had opened here in Jacksonville and decided to visit.  As usual, click each photo for a better view. 

The area is out in the country, which despite the distance makes sense because it enabled the cemetery to buy a good expanse of land that allows room to grow as veterans from various conflicts age and ultimately require a space. There is something solemn that strikes you as you encounter the entrance. 

I worked to get this shot because in its own way it reminded me of Arlington National Cemetery  which has a much longer history and a special place in the hearts of most Americans as the resting place of America's war dead. Strange, but I felt a sense of pride that Jacksonville could now be counted as part of that national history. 

I could not help but think that Marine James Davis has a great view of the grounds throughout eternity. Rest easy my friend.

There are restrictions for flowers and displays on a grave, that I at first thought were harsh but on reflection realized simple tributes are much more poignant. This lone flower almost shouts "I remember" and is why I like this shot. 

Lest we forget, there is a human cost to war, and someone dear has been lost. This visitor captured for me the remembering that needs to take place from time to time. That we honor the dead and announce that they are forever gone... but not forgotten.