Tag: Digital Photography

Russian Lake Weeds

The Seine

The Seine rises in the commune of Source-Seine, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Dijon. The source has been owned by the city of Paris since 1864. A number of closely associated small ditches or depressions provide the source waters, with an artificial grotto laid out to highlight and contain a deemed main source. The grotto includes a statue of a nymph, a dog, and a dragon. On the same site are the buried remains of a Gallo-Roman temple. Small statues of the dea Sequana “Seine goddess” and other ex voti found at the same place are now exhibited in the Dijon archeological museum. (source – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seine)

The Siene




The Neva

The Neva

“The Neva is the main waterway of Petersburg and the town is situated along its banks and across the islands of its broad delta. It is one of the largest rivers in Europe by volume of water and also one of the world’s shortest major rivers at only 74 kilometers. The Neva connects Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe, to the Baltic Sea. For centuries, it was of great strategic importance for transport and so the interests of the Russians, Swedes, Finns, and Balts clashed on its banks. From the 8th-13th centuries, the Neva was part of the trade route from Scandinavia to Byzantium, the road “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” In 1240, the Novgorod militia led by Prince Alexander Yaroslavich defeated the invading Swedish army on the banks of the Neva. Because of the victory, the prince was thereafter nicknamed Alexander Nevsky (of the Neva). But the main page in the history of this great river began to be written, of course, in 1703 when St. Petersburg was founded at the mouth of the Neva.” (source – http://www.saint-petersburg.com/rivers-and-canals/neva-river/)

The Neva

beachgrass

Ammophila breviligulata (American beachgrass or American marram grass) is a species of grass that is native to eastern North America, where it grows on sand dunes along the Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes coasts. Beachgrass thrives under conditions of shifting sand, sand burial, and high winds; it is a dune-building grass that builds the first line of sand dunes along the coast. Beachgrass is less vigorous in stabilized sand, and is only infrequently found further inland than the coastal foredunes. A. breviligulata was introduced to the Pacific coast of North America in the 1930s. It is proving to be invasive, and is increasingly important to coastal ecology and development in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. (source – Wikipedia)beachgrass

Coastal dunes

“Coastal dunes make up roughly one third of the Cape Cod National Seashore, covering approximately 8,500 acres from Chatham to Provincetown. Dunes predominate on barrier beach and spits, along the coastal margins of the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Cod Bay, and across the northern tip of the peninsula – an area known as the Province Lands.” – (https://www.nps.gov/caco/learn/nature/sand-dunes.htm)

Coastal dunes

View from my friend’s window

View from my friend’s window in Hanko Finland. Hanko (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈhɑŋko]; Swedish: Hangö), is a bilingual port town and municipality on the south coast of Finland, 130 kilometres (80 mi) west of Helsinki. Its current population is 8,835 (31 March 2016), with a majority being Finnish speakers and a strong minority being Swedish speakers (44%). – (source Wikipedia.com) view from my friend's window

KOZYOL means Idiot in Russian

KOZYOL means Idiot in Russian. Here is my painting of a Billy Goat – KOZYOL or Idiot in Russian..

The Idiot (RussianИдио́тIdiot) is a novel by the 19th-century Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It was first published serially in the journal The Russian Messenger in 1868–9.

The title is an ironic reference to the central character of the novel, Prince (KnyazLyov Nikolaevich Myshkin, a young man whose goodness and open-hearted simplicity lead many of the more worldly characters he encounters to mistakenly assume that he lacks intelligence and insight. In the character of Prince Myshkin, Dostoevsky set himself the task of depicting “the positively good and beautiful man”.[2] The novel examines the consequences of placing such a unique individual at the centre of the conflicts, desires, passions and egoism of worldly society, both for the man himself and for those with whom he becomes involved. The result, according to philosopher A.C. Grayling, is “one of the most excoriating, compelling and remarkable books ever written; and without question one of the greatest.”[3]

(source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Idiot)KOZYOL means Idiot in RussianKOZYOL means Idiot in Russian

Mirabelle plum

The mirabelle Plum is identified by its small, oval shape, smooth-textured flesh, and especially by its red, or dark yellow colour which becomes flecked in appearance. They are known for being sweet and full of flavour. The fruit is primarily used in fruit preserves and dessert pies, and its juice is commonly fermented for wine or distilled into plum brandy. Ninety percent of mirabelle plums grown commercially are made into either jam (70%) or eau de vie (20%). The plums are also excellent when eaten fresh. (source – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirabelle_plum)

Mirabelle plums grow wild at my wifes Russian dacha

Given Name EKATERINA

“Given Name EKATERINA – GENDER: Feminine – USAGE: BulgarianMacedonianRussian – OTHER SCRIPTS: Екатерина (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian)
PRONOUNCED: ye-kah-tye-REE-nah (Russian), ee-kah-tee-REE-nah (Russian)   [key] – Meaning & History – Bulgarian and Macedonian form of KATHERINE, and a variant Russian transcription of YEKATERINA.” (source http://www.behindthename.com/name/ekaterina)
Given Name EKATERINA

Hermitage Horses

Hermitage Horses. “The Hermitage is comprised of two big sections – the Winter Palace, which was the living apartments and state rooms for the Russian imperial family, and the “Hermitage,” rooms built for the art collections. Catherine the Great knew that good art reflected well on the Russian monarchy, so she collected big time, especially paintings of Western Europe. In the Hermitage, kids will see so many fabulous paintings in the original.” (source https://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Russia/hermitagemuseum.htm)

Hermitage Horses

Our marriage in Russia

Our marriage in Russia is official. It might sound funny to anyone who has never come face to face with Russian burocracy. Marriage in Russia is one of the easiest things to accomplish. But only a state marriage is considered official. Here we are throwing snow up in the air in Leningrad – Saint Petersburg to prove it!

Our marriage in Russia

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

Construction of the stone Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin began in 1500 with the building of the Ivanovo Tower; the main work commenced in 1508 and by 1515 a grandiose building was completed. The oak walls that formed the old fortifications were destroyed by a huge fire in 1513. (source Wikipedia)

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

koryushka fish

Koryushka FishThe body of the koryushka fish (European smelt) is typically 15 to 18 cm long, slender and slightly flattened on either side. Larger fish may reach 30 cm in length. Smelts have a slightly translucent body. The back and sides are grey-green to pink in colour, the flanks bright silver. The tailfin has a dark border. The smelt lives for up to six years. One characteristic is its intense smell, reminiscent of fresh cucumbers. (source Wikipedia)

Hammock in Fiji

This Hammock in Fiji was just outside the beach front bungalow I lived in for 11 days in 2011.Hammock in Fiji

more dacha flowers

Every where one looks there are more dacha flowers. Every corner of this tiny piece of land explodes with beauty every July. Every other corner is crammed with fresh growing scallions, carrots, tomato’s and potatoes. This is great spot to eat fresh salads every day. This place with more dacha flowers is a great spot on this planet.

more dacha flowers

Kartusha’s first Christmas 

Our baby girl Kartusha is 11 months old today. This will be Kartusha’s first Christmas. She has her own Christmas tree. Today she picked out a wooden toy train at the local toy store. Again painted in Painter 2017 I used the new glazing brushes and both new texture categories. I also took all my own source photos except for Santa. Kartusha giggles constantly and makes life so nice!!!!!

Kartusha's first Christmas

flowering russian weeds

These flowering Russian weeds are abundant in the mother land. Locals snarl and growl as these local weeds overtake every meter. The damn things are everywhere and really difficult to control. In reality these Russian weeds are incredibly beautiful.

flowering russian weeds

priozersk landscape

This priozersk landscape was painted digitally using Corel Painter 2017. Priozersk is a small town 3 hours north of Saint Petersburg Russia where my “photo smudged wife” is from.

This priozersk landscape was painted digitally using Corel Painter 2017. Priozersk is a small town 3 hours north of Saint Petersburg Russia where my wife is from.

cape beach umbrella and fiji sunset

Cape cod beach umbrella and fiji sunset.

Learning the ins and outs of Painter 2017.

Pushing colors to a limit beyond the comfort zone of most human beings.

And having so much fun doing it!

 

cape beach umbrella and fiji sunset

flowering pet plum tree

Here is a portrait of my flowering pet plum tree. I call this painting my flowering pet plum tree portrait as it was painted for an on line class about “Pet Portraits”. Digital Art Academy (DAA). I don’t have a pet. This guy flowers for about one week a year just outside our house here on cape cod as I walk bare foot to our outdoor shower. Like to make sure we are home that week every spring.

Loving this photo blending technique even though I thought it would be a bit like cheating but happy it is not as bad as doctoring someones will!

https://nicholasthompsonartworks.com/myfatherarchitectbenjamincthompson/#.V9nPwzswfXg

flowering pet plum tree

Sandy Neck Dune

Just another Sandy Neck Dune. Many nice moments. So happy this is my semi private spot.

Damn all you 30 to 100 thousand dollar motorboat tourists who invade us every calm day in July and August! My $900 12 foot aluminum motor boat is just fine on a splashy atlantic ocean day and can be lifted up by one drunk idiot – me! The best moments in life have been spent here in Barnstable Harbor. So happy this spot is ours. Why don’t you all learn that the tides go up and down by 12 feet twice a day – idiots!! Don’t get calmed, just open your eyes and watch the tide line!

Sandy Neck Dune