Contributions of the group 10+ Favourites

New Tires Triptych (thanks to Mr. Bibendum)

nobody@ipernity.com (Robert Swanson) — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 20:20:51 +0000

Taken during one of our visits to the Arizona desert. The Mr. Bibendum was standing over a pile of tires at the big RV get-together in Quartzsite.

The two tires in the outer part of the triptych are part of the set we purchased at about the same time (attached to our car...) They were, of course, Michelin.

Image constructed with GIMP.

Light Painting-1

nobody@ipernity.com (John Cook) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:39:00 +0000

John Cook has posted:

At last week's meeting of my camera club we experimented with light painting. These are some of my efforts.

Vienna Opera House

nobody@ipernity.com (John Cook) — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:46:29 +0000

John Cook has posted:

I took these pictures of and around the Vienna Opera House earlier this year.

HFF is now open, welcome to post !

nobody@ipernity.com (Xata) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:29:47 +0000

Xata has posted:

Smolenice chateau

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 22:35:16 +0000

m̌ ḫ has posted:

Smolenice chateau (Smolenický zámok) is interesting because it is almost a historical illusion. From a distance it looks medieval, but most of what you see is a romantic reinvention begun around 1900. Count Jozef Pálffy wanted not simply to repair the ruin, but to create an ideal castle inspired by Kreuzensten Castle near Vienna. The work drew craftsmen from Italy, Germany, Austria, and Hungary, who laboured alongside local villagers inside the ancient, ruined walls

The project never followed a neat plan. The First World War interrupted construction, and unfinished rooms were used to shelter the Pálffy family archive. In 1945, the building was damaged again during the final months of World War II, and was subsequently nationalised by the state. Its final form is therefore an unusual collaboration across incompatible eras: a 15th-century medieval fortress, an aristocrat’s nineteenth-century fantasy, and a socialist-state completion.

The greatest twist is what happened next. Instead of becoming only a museum, the castle was handed over to the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) in 1953 and became a vibrant meeting place for researchers from many countries. So, behind those theatrical, fairytale towers, people discussed serious science.

Smolenice is best understood not as a perfectly preserved relic, but as a building assembled from memory, ambition, and historical accidents — and one that ultimately found a completely unexpected second life.

An Unexpected Londoner in Bratislava

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:29:00 +0000

m̌ ḫ has posted:

I came across this iconic red double-decker bus sitting quietly in a deserted winter parking lot right next to an industrial zone in Bratislava. Seeing one of these out here is incredibly rare — it seems someone likely purchased a wreck of this vintage machine to restore it to its former glory.

This isn't just any ordinary red bus; it's a genuine AEC Routemaster. Originally designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC), these front-engined legends saw production from their first prototypes in 1954 until the final deliveries in 1968.

To capture this moody winter scene, I shot it using a modified large-format lens adapted to my Nikon DSLR. The foreground branches add a nice layer of isolation to this stranded British classic.

Bamburgh Castle

nobody@ipernity.com (John Cook) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:39:35 +0000

John Cook has posted:

Iconic castle on the north east coast of England.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamburgh

HFF: Durlston Castle

nobody@ipernity.com (John Cook) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:20:15 +0000

John Cook has posted:

In the Durston Country Park in Dorset, England, at the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast. Happy Friday and weekend!

Rivelin Valley

nobody@ipernity.com (John Cook) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:54:19 +0000

John Cook has posted:

My youngest grandson (aged 12) has expressed an interest in photography so I have been taking him out for photo walks. This was taken by him on the Rivelin Valley trail in Sheffield.

Penedos, HFF is now closed, see you next Friday!

nobody@ipernity.com (Xata) — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:00:34 +0000

Xata has posted:

Lake Doorway (4th century).

nobody@ipernity.com (Dimas Sequeira) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:00:18 +0000

Dimas Sequeira has posted:

At Butrint National Park.

On our way home

nobody@ipernity.com (John Cook) — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:06:26 +0000

John Cook has posted:

This morning's sunrise over the White Cliffs of Dover

Stavanger

nobody@ipernity.com (John Cook) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:21:10 +0000

John Cook has posted:

Panoramic view from the cruise ship. Best seen large.

HWW: A wall on the Longshaw Estate

nobody@ipernity.com (John Cook) — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:55:25 +0000

John Cook has posted:

The Longshaw Estate is a National Trust managed area of moorland, woodland and farmland in the Peak District National Park, on the outskirts of Sheffield.

visitpeakdistrict.com/business-directory/national-trust-longshaw-estate

Stavanger

nobody@ipernity.com (John Cook) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:37:44 +0000

John Cook has posted:

View from the cruise ship. Best seen large.

Colorkey ⭐️

nobody@ipernity.com (Brigitte ✨️) — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 03:30:25 +0000

Brigitte ✨️ has posted:

Dancing in the rain ☂️
www.ipernity.com/doc/fee/53428588

The Iron Canopy (Under the Shadow of the Eiffel Towel)

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 20:21:43 +0000

m̌ ḫ has posted:

Instead of shooting the classic, postcard view from Trocadéro, I tried to capture the geometric power of the Eiffel Tower from a less common perspective. This view transforms the familiar image into an imposing architectural crown.Choosing a high-contrast black-and-white style puts the focus entirely on the texture of the iron latticework against the dramatic flare of the afternoon sun.

If you look closely through the center base arch, you can see the distant silhouette of the Tour Montparnasse perfectly framed in the background.

Fun fact: intestingly, the grand, sweeping arches that frame this shot were actually a late addition. They were added purely for aesthetics to reassure the 1889 public of the tower's stability, rather than for structural support!

HFF ... Happy Friday Flower ❁

nobody@ipernity.com (Brigitte ✨️) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:12:42 +0000

Brigitte ✨️ has posted:

11.September ✨️

nobody@ipernity.com (Brigitte ✨️) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:42:13 +0000

Brigitte ✨️ has posted:

✨️ ⊱✿ In Memory ✿⊰ ✨️

The Haussmann View

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:37:00 +0000

m̌ ḫ has posted:

The Galeries Lafayette rooftop terrace is the ultimate proof that you don't need to pay a single euro to get a million-dollar view of Paris — you just have to pay with your patience instead.

As you ascend through the department store, you are treated to a masterclass in Art Nouveau architecture. The building is an absolute stunner, anchored by a century-old stained-glass dome that makes you feel like you've stepped back into the Belle Époque. But the moment you step out onto the 7th floor, reality hits. You won't be finding any quiet, hidden romance here. Instead, you will find yourself in a sea of hundreds of tourists, all aggressively jockeying for the exact same selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower. There is absolutely nothing unique or exclusive about it; it is a beautifully packaged tourist trap.

And yet, it is still incredibly nice. Because the building sits at the exact historic height of the surrounding Haussmann architecture, you aren't staring down at the city from a detached skyscraper. You are right there among the iconic zinc rooftops, close enough to practically touch the ornate dome of the Opéra Garnier.

Is it crowded? Absolutely. Is it a cliché? Completely. But when you are standing there looking out over the Parisian horizon without having spent a dime, it is simply rewarding.