Reflections on a trip to Scotland, with its abundance of historical ruins, such as churches, abbeys, and castles, which connect the past to the present.
After last week’s Wednesday Window in the lovely city of Brno, we’re jumping to another wonderful country in Scotland. In 2013 my wife and I toured a bit of Scotland , which has only increased our desire to go back to visit more of the country. One of the things that stands out in Scotland are the number of ruins of churches, abbeys and castles that one can visit, each with their own character.
Here’s a view from one of the chapels…
Past to Present
The connection between the past and the present is very strong across all of the country. The preservation of history through allowing these ruins to stand as monuments to the actions of the past strengthens this bond.
And, yes, technically, the window is gone while still being very present.
This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.
The Forum Romanorum, located on the Palatine Hill near the Colosseum, is a historic site filled with the intrigue of the Roman Empire.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s iPhone Friday post, I really enjoyed the Forum Romanorum, which is on the Palatine Hill. This is located across the street from the Colosseum, which was featured in that post. I have a bunch of photos from that visit and I have to spend some time with them to have them presented at their best.
In the mean time, here’s a teaser that still needs work…
Forum Romanorum
The Forum Romanorum, or ‘Public Place of the Romans’, is steeped in the history of the Roman Empire. Many significant events took place on these grounds, a lot of which were not that savory. Murders, secret plots, weighty decisions and grand speeches were among these events. Walking across these grounds, one can feel the weight of history.
It is a truly memorable experience to visit the Forum and I heartily recommend it over the Colosseum.
In this week’s post, we explore the historical significance of Djoser’s Step Pyramid, built during the Third Dynasty.
I hope you don’t mind that I do something a bit different for this week’s installment of this series… Rather than going back into my archive of images captured over the past quarter century, I’d like to go way back into antiquity.
Here’s that jump back in time…
Djoser’s Step Pyramid
In the Third Dynasty, King Netjerykhet (c.2667-2648 BCE) [better known as Djoser] ordered his chief official Imhotep to build him something spectacular for his burial tomb. Imhotep created a funerary structure that would lead to the smooth-sided pyramids used by future pharaohs. Rather than the mastabas that were used by royals and elite Egyptians for their burial, he created a stacked form of mastabas that became this step pyramid.
I hope you enjoy this significant moment in Egyptian history.
Warm light and extended photography hours are a real benefit of arctic summer evenings.
Of course, one of the distinct advantages of being near the arctic circle during Summer is the amount of shooting time. During my August 2022 trip, we definitely took advantage of the late hours to get some gorgeous, warm light.
This is one of those images from later in the evening…
Ingjaldshólskirkja
I took this photo around 9:30pm, as we were exploring the area on the Snaefellsnes peninsula. This church is located in Ingjaldshóll, which has a rather interesting history.
There are indications that Christopher Columbus stayed at Ingjaldhóll during the winter of 1477-1478. He sought to learn from the experience of the Icelanders in preparation of his eventual voyage to America (as it was later known). In the church, there is a painting of Columbus speaking with a priest during his stay at Ingjaldshóll. Of course, the Vikings took a very different approach in their voyages.
Another tidbit of information: the church is the oldest concrete church in Iceland; it was built in 1903.
In this week’s installment from Grafton, Utah, the focus is on the vivid texture of a weather-beaten house, emphasizing its unique personality shaped by time and elements.
As we continue the series of window images, we stay in the wonderful town of Grafton, Utah. Following last week’s Window into the Future, this week’s image is very much about texture.
I think you can appreciate the amount of texture that shows here…
Texture and Structure
This little house caught my attention with the vivid texture of its wood. Clearly, weather has had its effect over the years and created strong personality in the exterior of the house. It reminded me of seeing the wizened faces of folks who have braved the elements during their lives; those faces and people have stories to tell that we should listen to.
Welcome to week 168 of the Tuesday Photo Challenge!
You brought back plenty of the Outdoors last week, which inspired me to get outdoors with the EOS R and bring back some new material; next week, the camera will go with me to the Czech Republic, so expect more soon! For this week, I grabbed one of the images from this weekend. When I photograph old mill buildings, I enjoy capturing some of the details that show their character. There is nothing more spectacular in these buildings than the Wall, that protects it from the elements across the centuries. Use this theme in the way that sparks your creative juices! There are plenty of Walls to be found!!
I’m curious to see what you will come up with, as I’m confident it will be good! Have fun with this theme!!
Here’s that wall…
Growing a wall…
This shot is from the Hardwick Mill in Gilbertville, MA; the growth caught my eye with the shadows that it was casting and the contrast that was created against the wall.
The full rules of this challenge are in TPC Guidelines, but here’s the tl;dr:
Create a pingback link to this post, so that I can create a post showing all of the submissions over the week (note: pingbacks may not appear immediately, as my site is set up to require approval for linking to it; helps against previous bad experiences with spamming)
Have fun creating something new (or sharing something old)!!
Have some fun and remember to not hit your head against the wall!
Welcome to the 149th round up of the Tuesday Photo Challenge!
Layers definitely got your creative juices flowing, as you put together some amazing posts! I’m somewhat partial to those that feature foods, as they all looked very delicious! There were also stunning landscapes and cute puppies and kittens! Going back through layers of time definitely made me think!
Thank you for all your effort and thought that you put into these amazing posts, as they were a pleasure to read and absorb!!
Here’s a trip back through the layers of time…
Looking forward in Time
The Roman Forum is a stunning place to visit; as you traverse the Palatine hill and walk across the Forum, you walk through history. Few places on the planet are tied to history the way this location is.
The following were this week’s participants in the challenge with links to their posts:
This week’s entries are kicked off by pensivity101 with some amazing layers that are sure to please!
Sarah brings us a wonderful layer in her post in By Sarah; after all, who can argue with a layer of puppies?
Kammie brings out some great layers in her post in Nut House Central; there’s one that’s my fave! Which is yours?
Nicole takes us to a stunning location with her post in Une Photo, un Poéme; and, of course, her photo is amazing!
That is another awesome great photo in Geriatri’X’ Fotogallery that has a stunning rock in Galicia!
Shelley shows us that the whispering winds can create some serious layers in her post in Quaint Revival; Spring will come soon, Shelley!
In Don’t Hold Your Breath‘s post, we get to both experience and view the layers of Elephant Falls!
Penny’s poem in Penny Wilson Writes challenges us to look deeper than those first couple of layers!
In Pictures without Film, Ken brings several layers, of which I’ll dig into the edible one!
Yinglan shares some more amazing photos in This is Another Story, which remind me to update my bucket list!
Xenia has another couple of awesome posts, the first of which is in whippetwisdom exploring the layers of the highlands with Eivor and Pearl. Her second post is in Tranature, watching the birds wade through layers!
In Junk Boat Travels, Jackie brings out the layers of gooey goodness that are nachos!
In her post in Light Motifs II, Paula focuses on a variety of layers ranging from clothing to hair that make up a layered blogger!
Na’ama examines the layers that takes us back in time in her poem in Na’ama Yehuda; truly interesting!
Maria’s wonderful photo in her blog KameraPromenader has layers all throughout and a stunning view!
In a wonderful post in A Midnight Rider, the seagulls may just be in the upper layer!
In a cool post in the 59 Club, we get to enjoy a gentle layer of snow in Georgia! It makes me smile, as it is snowing in New England while I’m writing this post; we expect 6-10 inches tonight.
Irene’s photo in her post in Heaven’s Sunshine has some great desert sunshine with layers of light!
Robert’s in Photo Roberts Blog are fantastic, as they feature layers of texture and raw beauty!
In a lovely post in Corazon181, it’s almost like we’re looking at a painting where the sky layers above the gorgeous landscape!
In a great post in Cactus Haiku, we are treated to a haibun about Hinamatsuri, the doll festival, which features many layers!
In another lovely post in A Pause for Nature, there are stunning layers featured in flowers!
With another gorgeous photo in Land of Images, we get to enjoy the layers of the sky and landscape!
In a wonderful post in Wanderlust and Wonderment, we explore the biblical layers in Israel; amazing stuff!
Cee has a great set of layers in her post in Cee’s Photography! That kitty layer is awesome!!
Hammad’s post in the Blog of Hammad Rais examines the layers of shadows in a very interesting image!
In a tasty post in Another LQQK, Teressa has some delectable layers in her photos!
This week’s post in One letter UP – diary 2.0 brings the layers of the sea to us in photo and awesome poem!
Woolly goes deep in his post in Woolly Muses as layers are exposed step by step!
Debbie shares another great post in ForgivingConnects, as she unfolds the layers of compassion and their importance to self-forgiveness.
Liz brings us several posts this week. Her first in OneMillionPhotographs brings us the layers of color in her watercolor painting. Also in OneMillionPhotographs, we get layers of color in the Dallas Museum of Art. Her next OneMillionPhotographs contribution has some very colorful dinosaurs! The last OneMillionPhotographs entry features layers of snow and Rico!
Debbie features the layers of a mine in her post in Twenty Four; fantastic view and photo!
Khürt’s photo in his awesome blog Island in the Net is another stunner! Great look!
Please let all of these great bloggers know your thoughts about their posts!
The WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge has the theme of Peek. A bit of an interesting theme, as it allows us to take it into many directions.
As I mentioned yesterday, there are a couple of images that came to mind. Today’s image is also from this year’s trip to Italy and is probably one of my favorites. In this photo, we get to look across the ages at a location that has had a significant impact on Western civilization: the Roman Forum. Many political deals were made here, the fate of countries and people were decided and much intrigue played out!
Take a walk back into history…
Looking across the Forum
Looking from ancient to more modern in the background, one can walk and explore many events in one locale.
Hope you enjoyed this look back and have a wonderful day!
Welcome to the 64th round up of the Tuesday Photo Challenge! History has definitely been a fertile ground for your creativity, as your entries have been numerous and of high quality!
The greatest number of entries focused on your personal connection with history, as it has been experienced across the planet with an appreciative nod to Sarah for bring the planet itself into the picture. There were also wonderful posts that connect us to personal histories, each unique and, yet, shared between all of us. Of course, there’s also the Oxtail pastry, which now is history!
Thank you for being creative and sharing freely!
Here’s a bit more background on my history in images from the Netherlands…
Wilhelmina
Cheese Anyone?
Poffertjes Kraam
Eel Fisherman in Volendam
Centraal Station
Delftsevaart
Modern Art is a clue
Skyscrapers!
Jacob Cats in Brouwershaven
As I was born in Rotterdam and grew up either in or just outside the city, it features prominently, with nods to great Dutch poffertjes, as well as sailing and fishing.
The following were this week’s participants in the challenge with links to their posts:
Xenia’s whippets were first this week, loping along the coast with pill boxes and turrets in sight in whippetwisdom.com, touching both on history and Nature’s beauty!
pensivity101 tells a tale of both her history teacher and some of her favorite moments in recent history. Do you have any in common?
iballrtw shares a wonderful photo as a reminder of how we celebrate historic events in many locales.
Nicole’s post in Une Photo, un poéme focuses on the monument to commemorate the Australian soldiers how died and went missing in battle during World War I in Villers-Bretonneux.
Black Body‘s post features a gorgeous photo of an Oxtail pastry; why? Because it’s history!
By Sarah looks at the history of the planet, on which we reside, with beautiful images of the Champagne Pool in Waiotapu.
Stella put together an amazing post in her blog, Giggles & Tales; she gives a wonderful recounting of the impact of the Kola nut on Nigeria and its people.
Charles brings us two aspects of history in his blog, charlesewaugh; an ancient temple in Ephesus and civil war canons in Vicksburg, US. They provide two unique views into the past.
Susan brings us along tracing her family roots in Musin’ with Susan, as she visits the location where her father lived, before having to escape the threat of the Nazis.
Raj allows us to visit another wonderful location in XDrive this week; we go to historic Fort Chitradurga in India. A fantastic post!
Ladyleemanilla tells the tale of Filipino freedom fighters, their courage and persistence. She also shares a large number of historic locales in her photos!
Miriam takes us on a tour of Boston along the Freedom Trail in Showers of Blessing, which is a wonderful walk filled with amazing locales!
Judith recently visited Manchester and shares a bit of this city’s history in Nature Knows Best; the Town Hall certainly has quite a bit of history surrounding it, that you should check out!
Bullyboy has a magnificent post in Travel387 that tells the story of Vivekenanda house in Chennai!
Justine’s images tell of the history of Gettysburg in Justine Taylor Photography; this location is imbued with power, as shown in Justine’s images.
Robert’s photos in his Photo Robert’s Blog bring the nostalgia of history into focus beautifully!
I think that Ron couldn’t make up his mind, which is just fine, as he shares some great photos that bring history to us in his post in Progressing into Solitude.
Debbie shares a bit of personal history in ForgivingConnects as well as some really good tips on quieting the mind!
Khürt’s contribution this week in his wonderful blog, Island in the Net, tells us about the Princeton battlefield with gorgeous photography.
Lacy’s post in Adventures of a Busy Mom is very personal, as she recounts how her perspective has changed now that she is the wife of an active duty military man; wonderful post!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts about history, as you peruse these great posts!
Welcome to Week 64 of the Tuesday Photo Challenge.
As I’ve just recovered from the wealth of responses to last week’s challenge, I have been a little challenged to come up with this week’s theme….
Therefore, I thought about what might be meaningful about this week to a number of readers and as it was Canada Day this past Saturday (Happy 150th birthday!) and it is Independence Day in the United States today, I thought why not go for History as a theme?
What I’d like you to do in this challenge is to share a bit of your personal view of history in your image(s) and post. History has a lot of meaning for many of us, and certain parts of history may resonate more with us than others. It will be fun to see what parts of history we bring together this week, as a globally diverse group of Earthlings! (yes, I’m assuming that we’re all from this planet 🙂 ).
So, be creative, let your mind wander, fill your eyes with wonder and take us along on a trip of historic proportions! This could just be fun!
Here’s a glimpse at part of what history means to me…
Looking across the Forum
This view across the Forum in Rome this year was a rather significant moment for me, as my decision to apply to a program that placed Dutch students at universities in the USA, meant that I could not go on my high school class trip to Rome. This always felt a little bit like a gap in my education, which, after forty-one years, was bridged this year. To me, the Forum represents one of the three significant influences on Western civilization, which has had quite an impact on my life (a side-effect of a classical education in the Netherlands at the Gymnasium Erasmianum).
The full rules of this challenge are in TPC Guidelines, but here’s the tl;dr:
Create a pingback link to this post, so that I can create a post showing all of the submissions over the week (note: pingbacks may not appear immediately, as my site is set up to require approval for linking to it; helps against previous bad experiences with spamming)
Have fun creating something new (or sharing something old)!!
So, don’t skip a step in your creative process, and step lively to sharing your photography and writing!
