More bad news for photographers looking to use unmanned aircraft for photography – at least those hoping to use drones in Yosemite National Park. The National Park Service has issued a statement that makes it clear these devices are banned in the park under any circumstances. Learn more
[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Offices & Commercial. ]
The iconic central cooling tower has been turned into a swing ride and climbing wall, but the re-purposed complex as a whole features over a dozen attractions including rides, restaurants, bars and hotels.
Wunderland Kalkar is set near Düsseldorf, Germany, the site of a nuclear power plant that never went live due to local protests and construction problems. The recognizably menacing centerpiece of its industrial landscape is no less noticeable for having been painted with a mountain-and-sky mural.
Now that Germany is officially phasing out its use of nuclear energy, this solution (drawing in over a half-million annual visitors) may inspire other projects along similar lines.
In this case, billions in funding were ultimately scrapped and a developer was able to pick up the pieces for mere millions before turning a hefty profit through an unlikely conversion.
Since the location’s transformation in 1995, visitors from around the country and the world have come to ride its wonderful merry-go-rounds and carousels. Some are drawn by its overt offerings, but many also feel the pull of experiencing a unique look into an what remains of an amazing abandoned nuclear compound.
It sounds at best far-fetched and at worst frightening, at least at first, but this unique water-based energy station is already under construction and is …
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These 11 unfinished, abandoned, canceled, mothballed and/or suspended nuclear power plants will, for better or worse, never know the warmth of split atoms.
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The words ‘Nazi power’ have taken on a new meaning in Hamburg, Germany as an abandoned bunker formerly equipped with anti-aircraft turrets has been …
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[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Offices & Commercial. ]
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Who doesn’t love amusement park rides? Even if they make you dizzy or nauseous they are still fun to watch and even more fun to photograph!
Here are 29 carnival and amusement park ride images for a little fun this week!
Enjoy!
By Jorge Quinteros
By joiseyshowaa
By Mark J P
By Robby Ryke
By Karlina – Carla Sedini
By smcgee
By Thomas Hawk
By Billy Wilson
By Justin Brown
By J.Bower
By Lotus Carroll
By Justin Brown
By Jes
By Ian Sane
By Joe Penniston
By José María Pérez Nuñez
By Rick Harrison
By Javier
By Thomas Hawk
By Lotus Carroll
By Thomas Hawk
By Vlasta Juricek
By Nathan Harper
By Clint Mickel
By Thomas Hawk
By Victoria Pickering
By Thomas Hawk
By Rémi Lanvin
By Brian Koprowski
The post 29 Spectacular Images of Carnival and Amusement Park Rides by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.
Last weekend I enjoyed one of my favorite locations and views atop the summit of Haleakalã on the island of Maui. This spot has one of the most fascinating views that is created when the sunsets, namely the amazingly long shadow of the 10,000+ peak of Haleakala that stretches across the Pacific Ocean. Every time I visit most people are facing the opposite direction to take in a glorious sunset, but I am always entranced by the shadow as it stretches across the open ocean. A shadow might not seem exciting to most, but its fascinating to think how this one shadow can blot out light for such a vast area and stretch to the horizon. Adding to this view is the open crater of Haleakala with its iconic cinder cones and more subtle geological features. I never tire of this view.
Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved
30 Mile Shadow of Haleakala – Haleakalã National Park
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[ By WebUrbanist in Global & Travel & Places. ]
Originally designed to house a lamp post, this unassuming spot in Portland, Oregon, was left empty until a local journalist took it upon himself to declare it a park, naming it Mill Ends after his column in the regional paper.
The earthen concrete-enclosed spot, outside the Oregon Journal office of writer Dick Fagan and situated between lanes and medians, had began to sprout weeds until one night in the 1940s he declared it a park. In a fit of fancy, he claimed it was occupied by leprechaun Patrick O’Toole and began printing stories about the space and its resident.
Though only Fagan seemed to see its miniature occupant, his editorials claimed the area should be subject to the city’s park rules, including curfews. Soon enough, it was a local, then national, then international legend (though some outsiders mistakenly know it as ‘Mill’s End’).
Today, the beloved micro-park even sports a sign explaining its history and origins, also showing its original location in the context of surrounding structures.
Although frequently occupied by a single tree today, the circular anomaly has featured everything from a swimming pool and diving board (for butterflies and, presumably, leprechauns) and a miniature Ferris wheel (also clearly for small occupants of the park). It was even relocated at one point to accommodate building construction in the area. (Images by Duk, brx0, Piutus, Craig Dietrich)
Everyone always says bigger is getter, but when big gets boring, these are the awesome miniature inventions you need to see.
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You can judge which one is the actual winner of this dubious award after taking a look at this incredible collection of the tiniest hotels in the world!
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Eerie ghost towns, villages abandoned after shocking massacres, the palaces of deposed dictators and mansions so well preserved they’re like 1950s time …
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[ By WebUrbanist in Global & Travel & Places. ]
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Tioga Pass East Entrance with Sign – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Day 1 of the partial U.S. government shutdown just happened to fall on the day I left for my fall photography and new moon astro-landscape trip. My first stop was Yosemite National Park which was a high profile casualty of the shutdown. All highways were open to the park so as to drive through, but visitors were asked to refrain from stopping. Quite ironic that the public was and still is being advised to avoid using public land.
Tunnel View Signs – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Having traveled through Yosemite so many times it was incredibly sad and frustrating to not be able to enjoy the scenery as I might normally. I cannot emphasize how frustrating it was to have something of such beauty in reach, but yet deliberately taken away. Lucky for you though I’ve developed a set of images taken during my trip that just might evoke that frustration as I felt. Below are the amazing views of Yosemite as taken during my time in Yosemite during the first days of the U.S. government shutdown.
El Capitan Sunset – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Tuolumne Meadows – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Half Dome from Olmstead Point – 2013 Federal Shutdown
El Capitan – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Tunnel View – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Deer in El Capitan Meadow – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Tenaya Lake – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Photo Details:
iPhone 5S with blur achieved in camera at the time of capture.
For more on why the national parks were shut down I recommend this NPR article and broadcast:
National Parks Close As Other Public Lands Stay Open
Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved
Government Shutdown Effect – Yosemite National Park
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[ By Steph in Abandoned Places & Architecture. ]
At the top of a mountain, a crumbling Yellow Brick Road winds around forests filled with creepy anthropomorphic trees, Dorothy’s dilapidated house and an Emerald Castle made of stone. The Land of Oz has been abandoned for thirty-three years, and it hasn’t seen much restoration during that time, but it opens to the public October 5th for an annual event called ‘Autumn at Oz,’ enabling visitors to see it in all its sad, derelict glory.
Located at Beech Mountain, a ski resort in Western North Carolina, the Land of Oz saw over 20,000 visitors on its opening day in 1970. A ski lift was modified to resemble a balloon ride, taking guests on an aerial tour of the park with views of the mountain scenery. The park design was based on the book rather than the film, and the visitor was intended to experience it from Dorothy’s point of view.
Despite a 1975 fire that destroyed some artifacts, including the dress worn by Judy Garland in the movie, the Land of Oz was fully operational until 1980. Once it was closed, many items were stolen, vandalized or destroyed, and those that weren’t were given over to the elements. A few pieces remain in storage at Appalachian State University.
The park was partially restored in 1990, and Former employees started Autumn at Oz as a reunion three years later. Now it’s an annual event, opening the doors to the outside world just two days every year. Proceeds from the event go to the (apparently minimal) upkeep of the park.
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While it can be enticing if not blinding over time to chase golden hour light I’ve come to savor the moments I can explore a foggy landscape. While photographers will often use depth of field and lighting (ex. rim lighting, naturally occurring spot lighting, back lighting, etc.) to place an added emphasis of focus on a subject fog provides a naturally occurring means of doing the same thing. Fog both obscures and isolates subjects while bringing out naturally occurring color. Leveraging these qualities of fog with the right subject and you can produce a moody and timeless photo.
Around this time last year while driving to the Owens Valley, via Tioga Pass through Yosemite, I was pleasantly surprised that most of high country was socked in with extremely heavy fog. Ironic in such a majestic landscape I could be so excited to have obscured views. Rather than focus on the bigger elements of the landscape the fog provided a means to see the finer details and work to capture them in an intimate fashion. If you’re ever driving through a scenic location with heavy fog my recommendation is duck off the road to a safe spot and explore the area with your camera.
Photo Details
5 image vertical panoramic, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, 1/100 sec, f/9, ISO 320
Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved
Shadowless – Yosemite National Park
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Dogwoods, Yosemite National Park
“To love beauty is to see light.” – Victor Hugo
This Victor Hugo quote in its original context had nothing to do with photography, but it is quite appropriate to photographers and those who love photography. Not only does nature photography revolve around the art of light and seeing, much to Hugo’s original intent, beauty inspires and gives us hope. One of the many reason I enjoy photography and share it with others.
Photo Details:
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 50mm f/1.0 at f/1.0, ISO 320, at 1/3200/sec
Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved
Dogwoods, Yosemite National Park
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Morning Mist fills the valley below Logan Pass in Glacier National Park
This weekend I went back to look through older footage of Glacier National Park as I worked on a long standing personal project. While much of what I was working on in the field at the time centered on the iconic views of Glacier National Park, I was happy to see that I also captured the subtle beauty of the park as well. Sometimes simple aerial or atmospheric perspective can transform a well known view into something offbeat or abstract.
In looking at this scene I instantly locked on to the shading of light over the forest as morning light entered the valley and bounced off its walls. This wasn’t the typical view of a landscape with atmospheric perspective as the light seemed to split into a narrow fan of varying intensities. In watching the lighting change it was as if Mother Nature was lifting a curtain on an incredible show.
Related Reading:
Originality – A Matter of Perspective
Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved
Morning Mist – Glacier National Park
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