Pioneer Square Station, Seattle, WA. Intergalactic Bus Tunnel

Intergalactic Bus Tunnel, originally uploaded by Surrealize.

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away...

When I first stepped out of the elevator and entered the underground bus tunnel in the downtown Pioneer Square district of Seattle, I couldn't believe my eyes and had to pinch myself. It was as if I had been beamed aboard a ship bound for space travel! The infusion of science fiction inspired artistic style and contemporary architecture in this place is truly something to be marveled.

distinctive arched ceiling is quite a contrast from the sharp, square lines of more conventional bus stations, appearing more like a space-age cathedral. Architect Jerry McDevitt designed the station with lead artist Kate Ericson. Under Third Avenue between Cherry Street and Yesler Way, Pioneer Square Station is perched on the edge of the historic Pioneer Square District and within a block of major government buildings. The station design uses many of the arched forms and materials from the surrounding neighborhood. In addition to the Metro bus system, the station will now also be home to the new Seattle Link Light Rail train system that connects Downtown Seattle to Sea-Tac airport initially and will expand its coverage to additional neighborhoods in the future.

To capture the truly other-worldly feel of this place, I combined 9 exposures together to capture all of the detail in the shadows and highlights. You've really got to see this one large to fully appreciate it!

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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Beagle travel to the origins

HMS Beagle was a Cherokee class 10-gun brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, named after the beagle, a breed of dog. She was launched on 11 May 1820 from the Woolwich Dockyard on the River Thames, at a cost of £7,803. In July of that year she took part in a fleet review celebrating the coronation of King George IV of the United Kingdom in which she was the first ship to sail under the new London Bridge. After that there was no immediate need for Beagle so she was kept in reserve for five years and "lay in ordinary", moored afloat but without masts or rigging. She was then adapted as a survey barque and took part in three expeditions. On the second survey voyage the young naturalist Charles Darwin was on board, and his work would eventually make the Beagle one of the most famous ships in history.

Lighthouse inferno, Camogli Italy.

Lighthouse inferno, originally uploaded by GadiHext.

CAMOGLI – 2km southeast of Recco – was the "saltiest, roughest, most piratical little place", according to Dickens when he visited in 1884. It's had its rough edges knocked off since then, and is one of the most attractive small resorts along this stretch of the coast, well connected by road, rail and boat. The town's name, a contraction of Casa Mogli (House of Wives), comes from the days when voyages lasted for years and the women ran the port while the men were away. In its day, Camogli supported a huge fleet of 700 vessels, which once saw off Napoleon. The town declined in the age of steam, but the crumbling arcades by the harbour and the dark flight of steps into the town centre still have the "smell of fish, and seaweed, and old rope" that Dickens relished.

The train station is just south of the beach; turn right towards the centre for the small tourist office, 50m north at Via XX Settembre 33 (Mon–Sat 8.30am–noon & 3–7pm, Sun 9am–1pm; tel 0185.771.066, www.camogli.it). Summer boats shuttle over from Genoa's Porto Antico in an hour (8), using the old harbour on the north side of town, separated from the unimpressive pebble beach to the south by a promontory occupied by the medieval Castello della Dragonara. You can wander up through the alleyways to the castle, though the aquarium it houses is currently closed for renovation.

The best hotel is the lavish Cenobio dei Dogi, in its own waterfront park at Via Cuneo 34 (tel 0185.7241, fax 0185.772.796; 160–200); once the summer palace of Genoa's doges, it boasts its own beach, pool, tennis courts, restaurants and tasteful guest rooms. La Camogliese, Via Garibaldi 55 (tel 0185.771.402, fax 0185.774.024; 50–65), is a friendly spot excellently situated by the water (take the steps down opposite the station); it has pleasant rooms and they don't insist on full pension. Otherwise, try the spartan Selene, Via Cuneo 15 (tel 0185.770.149, fax 0185.770.195; 35–50). The Camogliese hotel has a quality mid-priced restaurant (closed Wed in winter). The much pricier Vento Ariel on the harbourfront (tel 0185.771.080; closed Wed) serves only fish brought that day directly from the nets into the kitchen. Away from the sea, Don Ricardo on Salita Priaro (the flight of steps up from the fishing harbour) does affordable Mexican food, and Revello is a fine bakery at Via Garibaldi 183.

Fish aside, Camogli makes its living from ferries operated by Golfo Paradiso, Via Scalo 3 (tel 0185.772.091). Departures to tranquil Punta Chiappa, ideal for a spot of swimming and basking in the sun, and San Fruttuoso, are most frequent (May–Sept at least hourly; Oct–April 3 weekdays, hourly at weekends), with a special night excursion offering the most romantic views of the gulf plus three hours in San Fruttuoso for dinner or a stroll (July & Aug 3 weekly; 9 return). There are also boats east to the Cinque Terre (July–Sept 2–4 weekly), which stop beforehand at Portofino and continue to Portovénere, as well as plenty more west to Recco and Genoa.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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The Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK

The Quiraing, originally uploaded by Billy Currie.

Taken just after dawn on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

We left home at 01:30 saturday morning (two hours sleep) to reach skye for pre-dawn light, we then snapped around Skye until the light got rubbish. At this point we drove all the way to Applecross to see how nice it was before driving back to Elgol for Sunset. After sunset we drove to Glencoe where we put up the tent at midnight and got 5 hours sleep before getting back up, to snap dawn in glencoe and then returned home. Think I might head to my bed and surface around Wednesday :-)

www.billycurrie.co.uk

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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Icarus at Night, Florida USA

Icarus at Night, originally uploaded by jurvetson.

My evenings are punctuated with preparation of various rockets for the Black Rock Desert launches later this month. Night launches with LED sequencers on board, video rockets and a bigger V2 – weighing in at 100lbs so far… and I still need to add three parachutes and two flight computers. First flight will with an Animal Motor Works N2801 spewing a shower of titanium sparklers.

Met today with a colleague who has a system to accelerate his rocket from 0 to 1000MPH in 0.25 seconds. Getting the electronics and even the propellant grains to survive over 400 g’s is a challenge!

This looks like the best of the NASA shots, but it is by Nils from Sweden, posted with permission.

(P.S. I don’t have access to my photos right now. Upgrading to Snow Leopard corrupted my hard drive, irreperably. Slowly recovering everything. Almost as bad as a Microsoft OS... I suspected a X.0 install on a near-full HDD, so I backed up everything right before; nevertheless, iPhoto will not open)

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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Niedzica Zamek, Dunajec Castle, Poland

Niedzica Zamek, originally uploaded by Klearchos Kapoutsis.

Niedzica Castle also known as Dunajec Castle (Latin: Castrum de Dunajecz, Hungarian: Nedec Váralja / Nedec-Vár, German: Sub-Arx Unterschloss, Slovak: Nedecký hrad), is located in the southernmost part of Poland in Niedzica (Nowy Targ County in Lesser Poland). It was erected between the years 1320 and 1326 by Kokos of Brezovica on the site of an ancient stronghold surrounded by earthen walls in the Pieniny mountains.
The Niedzica Castle stands at an altitude of 566 m, on a hill 300 m upstream from the Dunajec River mouth, measured from the center of the dam on Czorsztyn Lake.
The outline of Niedzica Castle can best be viewed from the ruins of Czorsztyn Castle on the other side of the lake. It is known as one of the most picturesque castles in the country and adorns the covers of many books.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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Stob Dearg, Buachaille Etive Mor, Scotland UK

View from Stob Dearg, Buachaille Etive Mor, originally uploaded by antsplan (away).

Coire na Tulaich, Stob nan Cabar, Stob Coire Raineach (Buachaille Etive Beag), Bidean nam Bian (and others)

This is a 9 image, handheld panorama and I've uploaded about a size equivalent to 15% of the original. Click 'All Sizes' above to see it much larger.

The image is taken after ascending Coire na Tulaich (Stob Dearg) at approx 900m. I took a wee rest here as it was quite an arduous scramble up the last part of the Coire on some pretty steep scree slopes. I kept losing the suggested route and was on my own at this point as my cousin had injured his back lower down the hill and had to return back to the bottom.

Behind me is the summit of Stob Dearg. I've been hiking quite a few hills of late and I'm absolutely loving it. I've hiked 6 Munros in the last three weeks (including the tallest in Britain), my knees and legs are grazed and bruised, I'm covered in midge bites, totally knackered but all I can think about is the next hill I'm going to climb !

Any feedback on the site would be greatfully received.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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National Constitution Center - Philadelphia USA

National Constitution Center - Phila, originally uploaded by visitPA.

The National Constitution Center in historic Philadelphia is America's most interactive history museum. Located just two blocks from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, it is the only museum devoted to the U.S. Constitution and the story of we, the people.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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Point of Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, Scotland, UK

Point of Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, originally uploaded by antsplan (away).

Point of Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, Isle of Muck & Isle of Rum, Scotland

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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Sunrice over Parga, Greece

HDR Sunrice over Parga, originally uploaded by ooznu.

The lovely little town of Parga, Greece, surrounded by mountains thick with olive groves, is situated in a secluded bay of the Ionian Sea, in the Epirus region of Greece. The position of Parga, with its houses built amphitheatrically from the coast up to the top of a mountain, gives this small town its picturesque quality. Visitors will be charmed by Parga which, although located on the mainland, has an island-like ambiance to it.

This section of Parga, Greece provides much information on history, architecture, museums, villages, weather, excursions, some pictures, maps and much more such as a large choice of hotels to stay in comfort...

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, originally uploaded by maksid.

Φθινοπωρινή Ισημερία έτος 1130 Νότια Αμερική, κορδιλιέρα των Άνδεων.

Ο Ίνκα Μάνκο Ρουπάκ, τέταρτος της Δυναστείας των Μάνκο Κάπακ ενηλικιώνεται…εβδομάδες ολόκληρες, ταξιδεύει, σκαστός από τη πρωτεύουσα του πατερά του, να πάει να βεβαιωθεί αν είναι αλήθεια ο θρύλος…τα ασημένια νερά της Τιτικακα προβάλλουν πίσω από την πλάγια…πρέπει να φτάσει πριν χαράξει…πρέπει να περάσει την λίμνη βράδυ…ο ντόπιος βαρκάρης τον περνά απέναντι, αφού παίρνει το χρυσό βραχιόλι που φορά…να κι όχθη…μόλις πατεί το πόδι του στη στεριά διατάζει τον βαρκάρη να τον περιμένει…απομακρύνεται κατ εκεί που θα βγει ο ήλιος….τα μάτια του προσπαθούν να σκίσουν το λυκαυγές…ανεβαίνει…αρχίζει να φέγγει, κάθεται ανακούρκουδα και περιμένει…η πρώτη ηλιαχτίδα βγαίνει από το πανύψηλο Ιλλιμάνι απέναντι, φωτίζει ακριβώς το κέντρο του οροπεδίου που απλώνεται στα πόδια του…φωτίζει ακριβώς την βάση της Πύλης του Ήλιου που είχαν στήσει τα πανάρχαια χρόνια οι προγονοί του οι Τιουανακο…είναι Φθινοπωρινή ισημερία….έγινε άντρας…στο θερινό ηλιοστάσιο θα γινόταν βασιλιάς….

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia

St Basil's Cathedral, originally uploaded by rm996s.

St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square.
Moscow, Russia

My Inspiration l HDR

My Inspiration l HDR, originally uploaded by Nimo Photography.

Remember i said i was having some trouble finding some inspiration a few days back. Not anymore. I think ive found it. Went on a little road trip to Montauk and my breath was taken away at the site of this shot oppurtunity. I hope everyone enjoys this as much as i did. I love it. It's the best.

Where
The Montauk Point Lighthouse

How
3 exposures, -2, 0, and +2 using a Nikon D300 w/ Sigma 10-20mm Wide Angle

Process
Photomatix Pro for tonemapping
Photoshop CS4, made duplicate layer from original, adjusted Levels, adjusted Curves, adjusted Hue/Saturation, and used Unsharp Mask to sharpen a tad

MUST BE VIEWED LARGE ON BLACK TO APPRECIATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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Hydra, Saronic Golf, Greece , ......Almost Noon

Almost Noon, originally uploaded by brexians election mode is ON!.

Hydra, a cosmopolitan, glorious and magnificent island,
combined with tranquility and relaxation,
offers entertainment all day long
and intensive night life.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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Calgary Downtown At Night Under Construction (Panorama)

Calgary Downtown At Night Under Construction (Panorama), originally uploaded by Marc Shandro.

This is part of an 8 image vertical panorama of Calgary's downtown which can be seen in full by clicking the link above (or the panorama below).

This was taken from Crescent Road which is a couple blocks from where I live. Nicola and I had just come back from Prince's Island where we walked on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to check out the Latino Expo.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






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