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In many ways, this view of Lower Yellowstone Falls has superior lighting as compared to the one that I shot the previous day (http://www.gigapan.org/gigapans/30677/). In particular, and thanks to the tip from professional photographer Roger Devore (http://www.devorephoto.com), who was set up immediately to my right, there's a particular optical effect visible here that only happens for a brief window each day. Can you find it? |
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It has been almost a century since Antarctic Explorers bound for the South Pole used Discovery Hut as a haven from the the fierce weather that they encountered on the continent's edge.
The Discovery Hut was built in 1901 by the Discovery Expedition which was lead by Robert Falcon Scott. Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition used the hut in 1908. Scott used it again during this 1910-1914 Terra Nova Expedition and his attempt at the Pole. Among other occupants during this expedition, Apsley Cherry-Garrard, Dr. Edward Wilson and Henry Bowers used the hut on their return from the Emperor Penguin colony at Cape Crozier. The last expedition to use it was Ernest Shackleon's Ross Sea Party in 1917. After that, the hut was abandoned, and Antarctica filled it and buried it in a protective blanket of snow. In 1956, the hut was rediscovered and dug out of the snow. The extreme cold of Antarctica had preserved it well, and artifacts including foods and clothes were found in very good condition. Although some of the artifacts were removed as souvenirs, there are enough clues remaining to provide an interesting glimpse of the lives of Antarctic explorers. Please discover for yourself some of the items from the Golden Age of Antarctic exploration, as they are seen today in Discovery Hut. The 14 images of this panorama were photographed with a Nikon D-80 and stitched with Autopano Pro. |
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From Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park at sunset and Full Moon rise.
Spot the waterfalls, and hikers! |
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An approximately 270 degree panorama from High Point, New Jersey. The view is from approximately east-southeast (left) to north-northeast (right). Three states are visible in this view: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. Lake Marcia is near the center of the image and Port Jervis, NY is near the right side of the image. The panorama was shot from the southwest corner of the base of the High Point monument. At the time of uploading, this is my largest GigaPan yet, and first to exceed 5 gigapixels. (Someday they'll fix the 360 degree stitching bug and I may have others this size to upload.) |
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A first time visitor to Yosemite Valley may well be overwhelmed. So many things to see, so many places to go, what to see, how to get there!
May I make a suggestion? Take the Bus! http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bus.htm While you sit, you are driven around the valley past spectacular views of the icons of Yosemite. Get off at stop #11 ( Sentinel Bridge ) and walk towards Yosemite Falls along the river. You'll have this amazing view of Yosemite Falls and the cliffs along the north side of the valley. To the extreme lower left, crossing the river, is Superintendent's Bridge. In the middle of the view is upper and lower Yosemite Falls with the gully that the trail goes up to the left and Lost Arrow and Yosemite Point to the right. Farther to the right is Indian Canyon with Arrowhead Spire to the left and Lehamite Falls to the right. On the extreme lower right is the parking lot with the shuttle bus stop #11. |
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Evi Slaby is originally from Amberg, Germany, which is nearly 1000 years old. She says that she loves how the fortressed town has unique shops and culture within it. This GigaPan image will allow her elderly parents in Germany, who cannot travel to visit, an opportunity to see and explore the studio she has only been able to talk to them about.
Evi Slaby, of Angelsilks, in her Moon Twp, Pa. studio where she creates paintings on silk. Her studio encompasses the great room and the dining room of her home. Her family enjoys the space as a studio where they can all be together to create art. She says this about her great space. "My studio is a place to relax for out family. At times my high school aged child will come in and paint something, our youngest one likes to drag a friend in and show him how to paint on silk or do a little project. When I need help with a large group it becomes a family project, Jeromy and Joel are great at that, they know what needs to be done and I don't have to say much. Our two oldest are in college. Josh's friend Sarah loves to hang out with us and we usually always dabble with something in the studio, especially on bad days when we miss Josh and Katherine." Everything that she creates is influenced by her spiritual journey. She hopes that everyone she teaches will be touched in a spiritual way. Slaby teaches silk painting to the community at the Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks, Pa., the Rhema School and her studio in Moon Twp, Pa. Her passion lies in teaching others rather than creating art to sell. Her silk painting lessons are therapeutic, healing and a massage for the soul. She works with members at the Cancer Caring Center and Gilda's Club and paints with children at Children's Hospital. Evi says this about her experiences with the cancer Caring center: "I run a program were you can paint for the price of one a scarf for yourself as well a scarf that will be donated as a head wrap to the Cancer Caring Center. In 2008 I was able to donate sixty scarves through all the help of my customers. This year it will be almost 100. Customers who are painting usually fret about the how and the what and "I am not an artist" syndrome. However, what they are forgetting is that the person on the receiving end of this scarf always comments about the beauty of it, and this doesn't really mean the physical beauty - but the thoughtfulness of the person who painted it. That they took time out to paint a scarf for a person they have never met and will never meet. A person who is at a difficult place in their life to bring hope and a smile and a little bit of joy. It's just great." |
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The dominant view from Artist Point is the lower Yellowstone Waterfall looking upstream to the south. In the other direction are these beautiful colors in the rocks.
Shot with Nikon D5000 and 200mm lens |
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By Karen Bullock and Aldona Bird
First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh is located downtown on Sixth St. The church has a traditional Presbyterian service every Sunday at 10:45 a.m. which features Reverend Tom Hall preaching and George Tutwiler directing the music that the choir sings. Each Sunday the members and visitors of the church are able to worship inside the beautiful sanctuary, which is bordered by 14 stained glass windows, and are able to listen to the music played on the spectacular organ. The First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh is a church saturated with history. It was first established in 1773 but the first building was not built until 1787. The first building was small and made out of logs, the second building, constructed of yellow bricks, was built in 1803 and stood until 1853 when a larger building was needed. This third building was used for 50 years when construction began on the fourth and final building in 1903. The church has been through several organs. The first organ they were supposed to have was $27,000, but was destroyed before it was to arrive at the church. To replace this organ the church acquired the old organ from Point Breeze Presbyterian Church. The next organ at the church was the third largest organ in the U.S. at the time. The 4,270 pipes the organ had took up the whole back wall of the sanctuary and the chimes had their own separate room. This organ was rebuilt many times and finally a church in Bare, Vermont purchased the organ where part of it was used there. The current organ has four manuals, 77-ranks and was installed in the church on November 13, 1988. Music is of extreme importance at First Presbyterian of Pittsburgh. In addition to having the choir sing on Sunday mornings they also present special music throughout the year such as the upcoming concert, "A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" which will take place on December 13 at 4 p.m. The choir is comprised of several dedicated and talented adults who volunteer their time to serve the church with their music. Each Sunday the choir sings two anthems and there is a separate choir, called "The Boosters," that sings during the Tuesday Noon Boost service. This short service is every Tuesday and 12:25 p.m. and is designed to keep people motivated while at work and to maintain their faith. In addition to music ministry First Presbyterian does many other ministry and outreach programs. Through prayer, financial contribution, volunteering, and mission service the church supports over 50 organizations and missionaries. These organizations and missionaries are spread from Pittsburgh to South Africa. The church also holds a Missions Conference one weekend each spring which brings together missionaries from the missions the church supports. The church also focuses on ministries within the church such as the youth and children's ministries. The youth ministry is for teens in grades 7-12 and the children's ministry is for children age five through 12. Both these programs introduce students to the gospel and helps them to develop a way to serve. The church has adult ministries that promote fellowship through small groups and bible studies for several different groups of adults. For more information on First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, visit their website at http://fpcp.org/ . |
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Between the cities off Boulder and Grover , Utah on Scenic Byway Hwy 12 Dixie National Forest, Capitol Reef National Park, About 9500 feet elevation |
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Hwy 24 Near Park Headquarters Capitol Reef National Park "Panorama Point" Fruta,Utah 360ยบ |