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Latest Posts by Steve Batch

Tropfen  auf dem Frauenmantel in einer sonnigen Regenpause. Der Hintergrund ist unscharf mit Lichtflecken

Tropfen auf dem Frauenmantel in einer sonnigen Regenpause. Der Hintergrund ist unscharf mit Lichtflecken

'Regen / Regentag' (2)#FotoVorschlag

Ohne Regen, keine Tropfenbilder in der Regenpause😁

Nein, ich nehme keine Sprayflasche mit zum Fotografieren. es war der gleiche Tag, wie bei Bild 1...

4 hours ago 41 7 2 0

The proper reaction to external pressure is to redouble our efforts at decarbonization because it enables more strategic independence from crazy authoritarian regimes. Democracy is a must.

Nobody wins a deregulation race to the bottom.

bsky.app/profile/aarn...

19 minutes ago 3 1 0 0
In this timely captured photograph, a majestic Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is frozen in the dynamic, powerful moment of taking flight from a lush green lawn. The swan’s body is oriented horizontally, stretched out in a lean, aerodynamic line that conveys a sense of urgent, forward momentum. Its long, elegant neck is fully extended toward the left side of the frame, emphasising the bird's concentrated effort. The swan’s head features the characteristic bright orange bill tipped with black, and a prominent black basal knob is visible, identifying its species. Its pure white plumage appears brilliant and clean under the bright, direct sunlight, which highlights the intricate texture of the feathers.The swan's large, powerful wings are arched high above its back, caught at the apex of a vigorous downstroke. The sunlight filters through the primary feathers, creating a beautiful translucent effect that reveals the delicate skeletal structure of the wings. Below the body, its dark, webbed feet are retracted slightly but still visible, having just pushed off the ground. The background is a study in soft focus, providing a sense of place without distracting from the main subject. The swan is positioned on a vibrant, well-manicured green lawn that fills the lower third of the frame. In the mid-ground, a dark paved path separates the grass from a body of water, which reflects the surrounding environment in muted tones. Beyond the water, the blurred shapes of deciduous trees and some early spring flowers, like yellow daffodils, indicate a park-like setting during a bright, clear day. The lighting is crisp, casting a soft shadow of the swan onto the grass beneath it, which further grounds the action and adds a sense of three-dimensional depth. The overall composition is balanced and energetic, capturing a fleeting moment of natural grace and raw power as this large waterbird transitions from the earth to the air in a serene, sunlit landscape.

In this timely captured photograph, a majestic Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is frozen in the dynamic, powerful moment of taking flight from a lush green lawn. The swan’s body is oriented horizontally, stretched out in a lean, aerodynamic line that conveys a sense of urgent, forward momentum. Its long, elegant neck is fully extended toward the left side of the frame, emphasising the bird's concentrated effort. The swan’s head features the characteristic bright orange bill tipped with black, and a prominent black basal knob is visible, identifying its species. Its pure white plumage appears brilliant and clean under the bright, direct sunlight, which highlights the intricate texture of the feathers.The swan's large, powerful wings are arched high above its back, caught at the apex of a vigorous downstroke. The sunlight filters through the primary feathers, creating a beautiful translucent effect that reveals the delicate skeletal structure of the wings. Below the body, its dark, webbed feet are retracted slightly but still visible, having just pushed off the ground. The background is a study in soft focus, providing a sense of place without distracting from the main subject. The swan is positioned on a vibrant, well-manicured green lawn that fills the lower third of the frame. In the mid-ground, a dark paved path separates the grass from a body of water, which reflects the surrounding environment in muted tones. Beyond the water, the blurred shapes of deciduous trees and some early spring flowers, like yellow daffodils, indicate a park-like setting during a bright, clear day. The lighting is crisp, casting a soft shadow of the swan onto the grass beneath it, which further grounds the action and adds a sense of three-dimensional depth. The overall composition is balanced and energetic, capturing a fleeting moment of natural grace and raw power as this large waterbird transitions from the earth to the air in a serene, sunlit landscape.

'Take Off'

For Rob's #BirdOfTheDay theme #LargeBirdsInFlight, birds LARGER than ducks in flight

Enjoyed observing the youngest swans at Exhibition Park practicing their flying. Beautiful and majestic.

Sparty 🦢

#EastCoastKin #ECK #Photography #Birds #UKBirding #Nature #Art #PhotographersofBluesky

5 days ago 120 13 11 1
Macro photography of a flowering Tibouchina lepidota (Sietecueros) shrub. Clusters of pentamerous flowers in magenta and pale lavender hues with prominent yellow stamens. Deep green, lanceolate leaves with characteristic 5-7 longitudinal veins. High-resolution visual record documenting a 6-month continuous flowering cycle, optimized for botanical, phenological, and horticultural indexing.

Macro photography of a flowering Tibouchina lepidota (Sietecueros) shrub. Clusters of pentamerous flowers in magenta and pale lavender hues with prominent yellow stamens. Deep green, lanceolate leaves with characteristic 5-7 longitudinal veins. High-resolution visual record documenting a 6-month continuous flowering cycle, optimized for botanical, phenological, and horticultural indexing.

Vibrance of the Andes #Sietecueros #Tibouchina #lepidota in its 6th month of continuous blooming A study in botanical resilience and chromatic contrast

#flowers #nature #botany #garden #bloom #magenta #naturephotography #plants #blossom #Tibouchina #Colombia #luiscordobapharchive #photography

3 weeks ago 986 206 74 4
Sunrise seen through the windows at the airport.

Sunrise seen through the windows at the airport.

Sunrise at B71.

#WindowsOnWednesday #MobilePhotography #Photography

1 hour ago 36 3 1 1
Windows onto the Vrijthof in Maastricht

Windows onto the Vrijthof in Maastricht

Good morning! Have a beautiful day!
Guten Morgen! Habt einen schönen Tag!

#EastCoastKin #ECK #Photography
#ArtChallenge
#WindowsOnWednesday

8 hours ago 44 7 5 1
always from the edge of water, the molten sun lights up the sky and mirrored in the waking marsh together makes a path into the darkened silhouette beyond

always from the edge of water, the molten sun lights up the sky and mirrored in the waking marsh together makes a path into the darkened silhouette beyond

cusp of day in liquid gold

14 minutes ago 26 4 5 0
Schilfhalme im Wasser mit kreisförmigen Wellen und Spiegelungen in ruhiger, monochromer Stimmung.

Schilfhalme im Wasser mit kreisförmigen Wellen und Spiegelungen in ruhiger, monochromer Stimmung.

#FotoVorschlag
'Regen / Regentag' am See

1 hour ago 16 4 1 0
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Thanks Luis, I am amazed at what an iPhone camera can produce this was just a one of a number of 'I wonder' test shot sand what a result! Creating this with my camera would require numerous images, focal points and adjusted exposure times and then processing and combining in Lightroom!

12 minutes ago 0 0 0 0

Thanks Retrogirlmn - I am amazed at what an iPhone camera can produce.

15 minutes ago 0 0 0 0
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Today's #ColorADay theme is #RedWed, anything red. This is Ludwigia repens, a stunning type of primrose that grows submersed in our #springs in North #Florida. I made this image years ago while snorkeling in my favorite spring. #photography #landscape #EastCoastKin #underwaterphotography #Ikelite

57 minutes ago 18 2 1 0
a close up of a red tulip. not the usual cupped shape, but a full,  round bloom of petals with drops of water all over the flower head

a close up of a red tulip. not the usual cupped shape, but a full, round bloom of petals with drops of water all over the flower head

#ColorADay #RedWed #bloomscrolling #flowers #dailyflowers #onlybeautifulthings #gardens #tulips #photo #photography

56 minutes ago 16 2 0 0
Beautiful sky at Portland Bill, Jurassic Coast

Beautiful sky at Portland Bill, Jurassic Coast

Storm was easing at Portland Bill, Jurassic Coast.

Storm was easing at Portland Bill, Jurassic Coast.

Bold sunset at Portland Bill, Jurassic Coast

Bold sunset at Portland Bill, Jurassic Coast

Tidal power. ICM image of the waves at Portland Bill, Jurassic Coast

Tidal power. ICM image of the waves at Portland Bill, Jurassic Coast

~Invisible celestial power~🌊🌊☀️

I am often drawn to the cliffs of Jurassic Coast, where the tidal waves, the storms, and bold sunsets meet the land.

Nature can teaches us resilience, free our mind and show us the bold beauty of everchanging world.

#nature #photography #WaterWednesday #waves

5 hours ago 15 2 3 0
A raindrop hanging from a slim branch reflects an inverted image of the tree and blue sky above it.

A raindrop hanging from a slim branch reflects an inverted image of the tree and blue sky above it.

#Photography
#ECK
#TextureTuesday
#Macro
#Raindrop

22 hours ago 174 14 11 0
Come walk with me through this shady forest, wait...I see glimpses of sunlight just ahead. The red dirt path is very narrow, not many come here. A large stump on the right is being reclaimed by the forest, fallen, yes but still useful to the ecosystem. The light is dancing on the moss & tree boughs, the blue sky lending some colour to the green of the forest

Come walk with me through this shady forest, wait...I see glimpses of sunlight just ahead. The red dirt path is very narrow, not many come here. A large stump on the right is being reclaimed by the forest, fallen, yes but still useful to the ecosystem. The light is dancing on the moss & tree boughs, the blue sky lending some colour to the green of the forest

...and the frantic noise of the world retreats

#ForestFriday #Scape #photography #nature #serenity #wellbeing #away

4 days ago 507 51 12 0
Our picture shows a wide, open countryside scene dominated by a dramatic sky and a vast field of flowering plants.

In the foreground, a dense field stretches out toward the horizon. The plants are dark green with small, scattered yellow flowers that catch the light, giving the field a speckled, glowing appearance. 

Two narrow tractor tracks run straight through the center of the field, forming parallel lines that draw your eye forward into the distance.

Midway across the image, a thin line of leafless trees stands silhouetted against the sky. Their bare branches spread outward like intricate lace, suggesting it may be early spring.

Above, the sky is striking and moody. Thick, heavy clouds in deep shades of grey and black dominate most of the upper frame. 

However, breaks in the cloud cover allow bright sunlight to stream through, creating beams of light that spill down onto parts of the field. 

These rays highlight patches of the yellow flowers, making them glow against the otherwise dark landscape.

The overall mood is dramatic and slightly tense, as if a storm is passing or about to arrive. 

The contrast between the dark sky and the illuminated field creates a powerful, almost cinematic atmosphere, with a sense of quiet stillness before or after changing weather.

And finally, our picture today is finished with a simple white border frame.

Our picture shows a wide, open countryside scene dominated by a dramatic sky and a vast field of flowering plants. In the foreground, a dense field stretches out toward the horizon. The plants are dark green with small, scattered yellow flowers that catch the light, giving the field a speckled, glowing appearance. Two narrow tractor tracks run straight through the center of the field, forming parallel lines that draw your eye forward into the distance. Midway across the image, a thin line of leafless trees stands silhouetted against the sky. Their bare branches spread outward like intricate lace, suggesting it may be early spring. Above, the sky is striking and moody. Thick, heavy clouds in deep shades of grey and black dominate most of the upper frame. However, breaks in the cloud cover allow bright sunlight to stream through, creating beams of light that spill down onto parts of the field. These rays highlight patches of the yellow flowers, making them glow against the otherwise dark landscape. The overall mood is dramatic and slightly tense, as if a storm is passing or about to arrive. The contrast between the dark sky and the illuminated field creates a powerful, almost cinematic atmosphere, with a sense of quiet stillness before or after changing weather. And finally, our picture today is finished with a simple white border frame.

Evening #BlueSky 🫖 & welcome to the simple solitude of a field in the Irish rural lands. Have a great rest of the day friends 😌 #Scape #ECK #SensoryArt #alone #Photography
#PhotographyOfBlueSky #Storm
#PhotographersOfBlueSky #Nature #RagingSky #SkyScape #Light #Dark
#SunBeams #NaturePhotography

4 days ago 161 31 19 0
A bright red Ranunculus flower in full bloom next to a tight bud and surrounded by greenery.

A bright red Ranunculus flower in full bloom next to a tight bud and surrounded by greenery.

#Photography
#ECK
#ColorADay
#RedWed
#Macro
#Ranunculus

43 minutes ago 32 7 5 0
a pair of Canada geese, one standing on a rock near a tiny island while watching the other swim away
through a light fog, you can see small row boats along the shore and still bare trees

a pair of Canada geese, one standing on a rock near a tiny island while watching the other swim away through a light fog, you can see small row boats along the shore and still bare trees

#waterwednesday #birdoftheday #blackheads #grey

53 minutes ago 47 14 4 0
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Wittenham Clumps
For #HillfortsWednesday taken last September.

1 week ago 25 9 0 0
Red Tulip petals against a black background - image processed to change  a messy background to black.

Red Tulip petals against a black background - image processed to change a messy background to black.

Red Tulip petals against a black background - image processed to change  a messy background to black.

Red Tulip petals against a black background - image processed to change a messy background to black.

Red tulips
#Flowers #BloomScrolling #RedWed #ColorADay #Tulips #Macro #MacroPhotography

33 minutes ago 6 0 1 0

Apologies these are in fact either Carnations or Dianthus I do not know which they are but they are definitely not Chrysanthemums!

37 minutes ago 1 0 0 0
A golden yellow sunset looking out over a reed filled lake. Fields and paths around the lake just about visible in the dimming light.

A golden yellow sunset looking out over a reed filled lake. Fields and paths around the lake just about visible in the dimming light.

The last light of the day.

#Photography #EastCoastKin #Scape #Landscape #10MinutesFromHome #Dublin #Ireland

5 hours ago 193 25 12 0
Male

Male

Female

Female

Male vs female

Male vs female

Red-bellied Jumping Spider 🕷️ 🇬🇷
#NatureWithin #Arachnid

3 hours ago 16 4 0 0
Video

Good morning all, a sweet video to share in this hard world. The great tit is busy with building its nest in the nestbox ✨️

3 hours ago 21 4 3 1

Thanks Audrey 😀😀

3 hours ago 1 0 0 0
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Thanks Alan 😀😀

3 hours ago 1 0 0 0
De jolies feuilles d'un massif éclairé par le soleil qui leur donne de jolies couleurs jaunes, mauves et rosées qui contrastent avec le vert des nervures bien apparentes.
Leurs formes ciselées sont jolies et délicates.

De jolies feuilles d'un massif éclairé par le soleil qui leur donne de jolies couleurs jaunes, mauves et rosées qui contrastent avec le vert des nervures bien apparentes. Leurs formes ciselées sont jolies et délicates.

#challengephotoaday
#fmspad #Photography
April 08 : A leaf (leaves)
Pour leurs jolies couleurs et leurs formes dentelées 🤩❤️
📸 perso

4 hours ago 18 3 0 0
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My favourite Pleione, the sparkling white Hertha Kretz ‘Everest’. It’s a complex hybrid crossed with P. formosana, giving it wonderful shape. Has survived last two winters in a pot outdoors, so being brave and trying it permanently mounted on a shady tree fern 🌱

16 hours ago 35 5 1 0
A macro image of a deep red Japanese Maple/Acer Palmatum “Atropurpureum” leaf against a green blurred out background. The outer leaf is coated in a fuzzy white almost fur like protective lining while the inside seems vulnerably delicate and squashed together like tiny babies in a plant womb. 
Camera: iPhone 15 Pro.

A macro image of a deep red Japanese Maple/Acer Palmatum “Atropurpureum” leaf against a green blurred out background. The outer leaf is coated in a fuzzy white almost fur like protective lining while the inside seems vulnerably delicate and squashed together like tiny babies in a plant womb. Camera: iPhone 15 Pro.

The promise. A macro image of an Acer Palmatum “Atropurpureum” leaf about to be released, tempted out by a sudden mini heatwave in my part of England.

#ColorADay #RedWed
#InMyGardenToday #Nature
#EastCoastKin #ECK
#MacroPhotography #MobilePhotography #PhotographersOfBluesky

4 hours ago 32 6 1 1
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4 hours ago 10 3 0 0