ENCINITAS, CA — Patch reader Esther Baas captured this photo on the beach in Encinitas.
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When the cone of uncertainty meets the circle of confusion, anything is possible. So perhaps turning to Jimmy Buffett for advice is the way to go. His lyrics are a guide, “These changes in latitude, changes in attitude, nothing remains quite the same, through all of the islands and all of the highlands if we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.”
Yes, it is September, hurricane high season. Photographing heavy weather is indeed a challenge, outlasting salt spray, wind-driven rain and storm surges can quickly swamp even the sturdiest of rain gear. But long before the cone of uncertainty reaches our shores, or hopefully way offshore, there is much work ahead. That is the circle of confusion.
A heavy cloud bank opens up for a brief look at the sun at the end of the day over Barnstable Harbor.
A highly technical photo term for basically what is in or out of focus with any given lens attached to a camera. Thankfully the days when photographers draped a dark cloth over their heads to stare at an upside down image on a big view camera are gone, although this ancient art is still worshipped by some practitioners.
So waiting out the days of Hurricane Lee’s “uncertainty” are anything but the calm before the storm. There are many photographs to be made. Boaters hauling out, beach managers gathering up the lifeguard stands, battening down the bathhouses are usually the first wave. A major storm requires stocking up on food, gasoline and batteries to ride out several days off the grid. Now it is time for the “confusion” as boots-on-the-ground photojournalists work to game the storm.
When will it hit, is the tide high or low, what direction will the wind be coming from and where to go, north side, south side, Outer Cape, Lower Cape, Mid-Cape. If that wasn’t enough decision making, there are technical issues, when is deadline, usually earlier than normal on storm days, will the cell service be working and can a location safely be accessed? Great photos that can’t be sent out by deadline simply don’t make the paper or online if they can’t be sent.
So between “uncertainty” and “confusion,” trying to figure out what Mother Nature will bring and how the latest photo technology will perform in storm-force winds can quickly bring on decision fatigue. But as the late singer says, “If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane” are words to live by. There will always be another brewing storm somewhere out there in the Atlantic, but after the uncertainty and confusion, there is always that break in the clouds as a storm passes and the sun returns to our shores.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Photo Shoot: “Cone of Uncertainty” keeps hurricane photographers busy
For years, September’s arrival equalled a feeling of “back to school dread”. No more bank holidays and long summer evenings, sitting outside and lazily drinking rosé. I mournfully focused on the shortening days and reluctant need for a coat, clinging on to wearing cardigans for as long as possible in protest. But there is, of course, beauty in the change in season. And I have learned to celebrate my favourite thing this time of year has to offer, and that is its produce. To soften the blow, nature gives us the best it has. Sure, we have to temporarily say goodbye to mounds of strawberries, jersey royals and peas, but instead here come cascading beans, golden corn and stone fruits. Yes, we might need to actually start wearing closed-toe shoes again, but it’s OK, because with that comes cosier indoor dining and a bounty of leafy greens, darkening plump berries and sculptural, curvaceous squashes.
And this is what excites me after a summer of being sociable and eating out. I actually want to host again. To take advantage of what is abundant and to get back in the kitchen, because if it could speak, I’m sure my kitchen would tell me it has felt a little neglected over the last few months.
There is genuinely no better time to fall back in love with cooking, and these recipes are just a few of the ways that I will be welcoming the inevitable change in rhythm and energy that September brings.
Leek and kimchi soup with blue cheese croutons
Leek and kimchi soup with blue cheese croutons. Photography and prop styling: Kate Whitaker; food styling: Bianca Nice Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer
The inspiration for this comforting recipe came from my favourite toasted sandwich (three cheese and kimchi) and a love for a crouton-topped soup. If you are imagining an inspired French onion soup, you are on the right track.
Serves 4 leeks 4 onions 3 garlic 3 cloves olive oil 2 tbsp unsalted butter 60g sea salt and freshly ground black pepper kimchi 200g bay leaf 1 vegetable stock 1 litre baguette 8 slices gorgonzola 120g mature cheddar 120g
Trim and slice the leeks, giving them a good wash in a colander to get rid of any grit. Peel and finely slice the onions and garlic. Place a large saucepan or casserole on a medium-low heat and add the olive oil and half of the butter, and all the sliced vegetables. Season with sea salt and ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Sauté for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything has cooked down and is sticky and golden in colour. If your kimchi is made using quite large pieces, run your knife through it to shred it, then stir through with the bay leaf and vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, cover with a lid and reduce to a simmer for 15 more minutes.
When the soup is ready, preheat your grill to high. Butter the baguette. Coarsely grate the cheddar and slice the gorgonzola the best you can. Decant the soup between 4 bowls and top each bowl with 2 slices of buttered baguette, and then top with the cheeses evenly divided between the bowls. Pop the bowls under the grill for a few minutes, until the cheese is molten, bubbling and oozy.
Serve, carefully, straight away.
Roast chicken legs, plums and marsala
Roast chicken legs, plums and marsala. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer
This is one of those gloriously straightforward dinners that is weeknight worthy but also elegant enough to serve to friends. Serve with crushed potatoes, or crusty fresh bread to mop up the sticky, gently spiced marsala baked plums. A bitter leaf salad would be welcome, too.
Serves 4 banana shallots 6 plums 350g rosemary 4 sprigs garlic 4 cloves chicken legs 4 sea salt and freshly ground black pepper unsalted butter 25g marsala 175ml star anise 1 cinnamon 1 stick
Preheat your oven to 180C fan/gas mark 6. Peel and halve the shallots. Halve the plums and remove their stones. Pick the rosemary leaves, and roughly chop. Crush the garlic cloves, still in their skins. Generously season the chicken legs. Place a large, ovenproof frying pan or wide, shallow saucepan over a medium heat and add the butter. Fry the chicken legs, skin side down, for around 6-8 minutes, until they are deeply golden. Remove the chicken legs and place on a plate. Add the shallots, chopped rosemary, halved plums and crushed garlic. Pour in the marsala, add the star anise and stick of cinnamon and season well. Bring to the boil, then nestle in the chicken legs, skin side up. Place the pan in the oven and roast for 45-50 minutes, basting once or twice, until the chicken skin is crispy and the base is rich and reduced.
Runner beans, preserved lemon and feta
Runner beans, preserved lemon and feta. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer
This recipe works beautifully with any beans you can get your hands on, but I have a particular soft spot for runner beans. Make it ahead of serving, even the day before if possible, and it’ll reward you for the resting time. Serve on a paper tablecloth, with a generous dressing of peppery extra virgin olive oil and pretend you are on a Greek island.
Serves 4 runner beans 600g coriander ½ bunch garlic 2 cloves red onion 1 pitted green olives 125g ripe vine tomatoes 500g preserved lemon 1 extra virgin olive oil 5 tbsp tomato puree 1 heaped tbsp sea salt and freshly ground black pepper feta 1 x 200g block
Trim the runner beans, remove the strings and cut on the diagonal into 3-4cm lengths. Finely slice the coriander stalks, and roughly chop the coriander leaves.
Peel and finely chop the garlic and red onion. Roughly chop the olives. Finely chop the tomatoes. Halve the preserved lemon, remove and discard the middle, and finely chop the skin.
Place a wide saucepan or large frying pan over a medium-low heat and pour in 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Fry the chopped garlic and onion for 10 minutes, until starting to soften, then add the chopped coriander stalks, chopped olives, preserved lemon and tomato puree. Fry for a minute, then add the chopped tomatoes and runner beans. Season generously with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, and top with around 300ml of water, so that the beans are just covered. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer over a low heat for around 40 minutes, until the beans are tender. Remove the lid, turn up the heat and cook for a further 5-10 minutes, so that any residual water cooks away.
Serve by topping with the block of feta, drizzling with the last 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with the chopped coriander.
Roasted squash with tahini and chilli crisp
Roasted squash with tahini and chilli crisp. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer
The balance of spices and textures in this autumnal dish makes this an exciting side dish, but also bold and brave enough to be a great vegan main offering. The whipped tahini alone is an excellent dressing, and a great technique to have in your arsenal.
Serves 4 butternut squash 1 small, around 900g olive oil 2 tbsp coriander seeds 1 tbsp cumin seeds 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp sea salt and freshly ground black pepper tahini 125g garlic 1 clove lemon 1 extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp ice cubes 2 coriander ½ bunch chilli crisp oil 3 tbsp
Preheat your oven to 180C fan/gas mark 6. Trim the butternut squash and cut in half. Scoop out the seeds, then cut the squash into long thin boats. You will end up with around 8 slices. Place in a large roasting tray and drizzle with the olive oil. Lightly crush the coriander and cumin seeds, and sprinkle over the squash with the ground cinnamon. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and rub all the flavours into the squash. Lay the slices of squash out in the tray, skin side down if possible, and place in the oven. Roast for around 45–50 minutes, until the squash is charred but also tender.
While the squash is cooking, make the tahini dressing. Place the tahini in a bowl or jug. Peel and finely grate in the garlic. Squeeze in the lemon juice, season generously with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the 2 ice cubes, extra virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons of cold water and blitz with a stick blender until you have a pale, whipped tahini dressing. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Spoon on to a serving platter. Finely chop the coriander and stir through the roasted squash, then transfer to the platter and place on top of the tahini dressing. Drizzle over the chilli crisp oil and serve straight away.
Almond and blackberry tosca cake
Almond and blackberry tosca cake. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer
This autumnal Swedish tosca cake is perfect for fika (the Swedish term for a break in the day, accompanied by coffee and cake). The caramelised florentine style topping, damp sponge and tartness from the blackberries is a dream at any time, but throw in a dollop of creme fraiche and you have a fancy finish for a dinner party.
Serves 8-10 unsalted butter 250g plain flour 130g ground almonds 50g baking powder 1 tsp fine sea salt a few pinches eggs 2 large caster sugar 230g double cream 110ml vanilla extract 2 tsp blackberries 100g plus extra to serve flaked almonds 130g
Preheat your oven to 160C fan/gas mark 4. Grease and line the base of an 20cm springform cake tin. Melt 130g of the butter and leave to one side. Whisk together 90g of the plain flour with the ground almonds, baking powder and a good pinch of salt. In the bowl of a freestanding mixer, or large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs with 130g of the caster sugar until pale and light. Stir in cooled melted butter, 80ml of the double cream and the vanilla extract. Then fold in the mixed dry ingredients. Spoon into the prepared cake tin. Toss the blackberries with 10g of the plain flour, then evenly dot into the cake mixture. Place the cake in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
When the cake is almost ready, place the last 120g of butter into a small saucepan with the remaining 100g of the caster sugar, 30g of plain flour, 30ml of double cream (equivalent to 2 tbsp) and a good pinch of the fine sea salt. Place on a medium heat until the butter has melted, and stir in the flaked almonds until you have a smooth pale caramel. Remove the cake from the oven after 30 minutes and evenly spoon over the almond caramel. Return to the oven, turn the heat up to 180C fan/gas 6, and bake for a further 25 minutes, or until the flaked almond caramel topping is a golden brown. You can check with a skewer, but the cake will be ever so slightly damp. Run your knife around the inside of the tin, leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Serve with a generous dollop of creme fraiche and more blackberries on the side.
Georgina Hayden’s latest book is Nistisima (Bloomsbury, £26)
This photo taken on Sept. 14, 2023 shows black-necked cranes at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Photo: Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 14, 2023 shows a black stork at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Photo: Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 12, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Photo: Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 12, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Photo: Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 shows the scenery of a desert and snow mountains at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Photo: Xinhua)
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 12, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China.(Photo: Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 14, 2023 shows Tibetan gazelles at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China.(Photo: Xinhua)
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 shows the Ayakum Lake at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China.(Photo: Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 14, 2023 shows the shazi spring at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Photo: Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 shows the Ayakum Lake at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Photo: Xinhua)
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 12, 2023 shows wild yaks at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Photo: Xinhua)
EL PASO, Texas — Nature and art come together in a local art exhibit with a message. It’s on display at the El Paso International Museum of Art.
“It’s photography, water colors, acrylics – everything is a piece of the desert that shows how alive it is. we have plants, prickly pears, coyotes, so it just shows how alive and diverse it is, says Frontera Land Alliance Development Director Kathia Gonzalez.
Protecting the beauty captured in these works is the very purpose of this exhibit. It’s a partnership between the EPMA and Frontera Land Alliance, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and conserving open natural spaces in the Chihuahuan Desert. The organization is focused on educating the public, through outreach activities like free guided hikes, and outdoor art sessions.
“We are the people’s museum. Every piece is from our community, made possible by our community and we showcase artists at all stages of their careers, says Emily Leedom, Director of El Paso International Museum of Art.
Many of the pieces in the show are for sale, with proceeds going directly to the local artists.
The art show is called Special Place and Wide-Open Spaces and will be on display at the International Museum of Art until September 22. A public reception will be held on Sunday, September 17 from 2-4 and the same day will be Family Day from 1-4 p.m.
You can learn more about the Frontera Land Alliance at Frontera Land Alliance .
A mesmerizing new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope captures the hazy glow of a distant galaxy.
The galaxy, known as NGC 3156, is located about 73 million light-years from Earth in the Sextans constellation. It is categorized as a lenticular galaxy, which is a cross between a spiral and an elliptical galaxy as it boasts a bright central bulge but no distinct twisting arms. Lenticular galaxies are also believed to have either used up or lost most of their interstellar matter, which suggests they are home to older stellar populations.
In the recent photo of NGC 3156, faint concentric ovals appear progressively brighter towards the core when compared to faded edges of the galaxy. Two threads of dark red interstellar dust cut across the galaxy’s disk, circling its central bulge. Relatively few cosmic neighbors are captured in the surrounding area of space.
Related: The best Hubble Space Telescope images of all time!
The Sextans constellation occupies a sparse, relatively dark area of the sky. It is a minor equatorial constellation that belongs to the Hercules family of constellations, and is named after the astronomical tool used to measure the angular distance between two visible objects in the sky.
“Sextants are often thought of as navigational instruments that were invented in the 18th century. However, the sextant as an astronomical tool has been around for much longer than that: Islamic scholars developed astronomical sextants many hundreds of years earlier in order to measure angles in the sky,” European Space Agency (ESA) officials said in a statement releasing the new Hubble photo of NGC 3156.
Faint concentric ovals appear progressively brighter towards the center of the galaxy NGC 3156. Two threads of dark red interstellar dust can also be seen near the galaxy’s central bulge. (Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Sharples, S. Kaviraj, W. Keel)
“A particularly striking example is the enormous sextant with a radius of 36 meters that was developed by Ulugh Beg of the Timurid dynasty in the fifteenth century, located in Samarkand in present-day Uzbekistan,” ESA officials said. “These early sextants may have been a development of the quadrant, a measuring device proposed by Ptolemy.”
Sextants have long since been replaced by more sophisticated instruments such as the Hubble Space telescope — a joint mission led by the ESA and NASA — which are able to measure the positions of stars and astronomical objects much more accurately and precisely.
Hubble captured this recent photo, which was released online on September 11, using data from its Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3. Hubble has helped astronomers study the galaxy’s position, stellar population (including densely packed globular clusters) and the supermassive black hole at its core.
The Essex Wildlife Trust’s yearly quest for the best nature photos is underway, with public submissions being considered up until midnight on November 30.
There are six different categories which photography enthusiasts can take part in, the only stipulation being all photos must have been taken within the county this year.
The categories include A Wildlife Motion Picture, Captivating Colours, Gardener’s World, Wilder Essex, Young Blood, and Coastal Captures.
A submission from last year called ‘Rocky Robin’. (Image: Jake Fry)
The overall winner of the competition will be announced in December and will be decided by a public vote, while the category winners will be decided by a panel of judges.
All winners will be featured in the Essex Wildlife Trust’s 2025 calendar and their work will be shown at a public exhibition in High Chelmer Shopping Centre, Chelmsford.
Speaking about the competition, Lauren Cosson, communications manager for the Essex Wildlife Trust, said: “Every year we look forward to launching our annual photography competition.
“It is a fantastic way to showcase Essex’s range of habitats and wildlife, and the public’s talent in capturing them.”
You can enter the competition by visiting essexwt.org.uk/photography-competition.
Ruben Flowers stumbled across the photo by accident.
It was early 2023 and he was thumbing through photo albums at his grandmother’s house. Suddenly, there it was: a snapshot from 1994, taken in an airplane flight deck, depicting him as a toddler, sitting next to his pilot dad.
In this picture, Flowers is looking at his dad in admiration. His father smiles at the camera, ready to fly the plane.
Captain Ruben Flowers and his son, also called Ruben Flowers, posed for this photograph in the airplane flight deck in 1994. They recently recreated the photo, with a twist.
Southwest Airlines
Flowers had forgotten the photo existed, but seeing it again, he was flooded with memories of growing up, inspired by his father. He’d loved their trips to the airport, tagging along to the training center, taking a go on the simulators. He’d beamed with pride when his dad talked about his job at the school careers day.
And the timing of the rediscovered photo was perfect: Flowers, now 30, was just about to follow in his father’s footsteps and begin flying as a First Officer for Southwest Airlines.
Meanwhile Flowers’ father – also called Ruben Flowers – was nearing retirement and readying for his final Southwest flight as Captain.
The two men were excited to briefly overlap at Southwest and hoped they’d get an opportunity to fly together.
“It was a dream of mine to make it to this point to fly with my dad, it was probably my number one aviation goal,” the younger Flowers tells CNN Travel.
After rediscovering the old photo, the two Flowers men added a coda to the goal: not only did they want to fly together, they wanted to recreate the 1990s flight deck photo, over two decades later. Not just as father and son, but as colleagues and co-pilots.
Cut to March 2023 and the older Flowers was flying his final Southwest flight, piloting an aircraft from Omaha, Nebraska to his home city of Chicago, Illinois. His son was by his side, as his first officer.
“That was an awesome feeling,” says the older Flowers. “To look over there and see my son, next to me, for my last landing.”
And, naturally, they recreated the 1994 photo, both grinning happily in the 2023 version.
“It was just great to be able to recreate that moment,” says the younger Flowers. “It was a dream come true moment.”
Here’s Captain Ruben Flowers and First Officer Ruben Flowers recreating the 1990s photo in 2023.
Courtesy Southwest Airlines
Family affair
Also on board the older Flowers’ retirement flight was his brother and his cousin, who both work for Southwest too. In case you hadn’t realized by now, flying truly is a family affair for the Flowers.
“There are seven of us,” explains the older Flowers. “Me. My brother’s a pilot. I have three kids, all pilots. And my brother’s son is a pilot and my cousin is a pilot. And it’s just amazing to me that they all wanted to be pilots.”
At family events and on holidays, the Flowers family try to keep work talk to a minimum “but there’s always a story that sparks it off, and then it gets into aviation,” as the younger Flowers puts it.
The Flowers family aviation legacy began when the older Flowers was a kid growing up in Michigan in the 1960s and 70s.
“A pilot one day asked me if I wanted to come up to the cockpit. And I did it,” he recalls. “And oh, my God, it was like the bug bit me – I wanted to be a pilot. And from that point on, I just focused on being an airline pilot.”
Once he qualified, the older Flowers made it his mission to inspire others to follow in his footsteps. The fact that ended up including many of his loved ones was accidental. He says he always encouraged his kids to explore whatever they loved, whatever that might be.
The younger Flowers says that while he grew up in awe of his dad and proud of his work, he didn’t officially decide to become an aviator until midway through college.
Looking back now though, he thinks the signs were always pointing in that direction.
“It was always something that was probably in the back of my head that I probably wanted to do all my life,” he says.
The Flowers men say they worked well together as a father-son pilot team.
Courtesy Southwest Airlines
Working as a team
The older Flowers’ retirement flight was always going to be emotional, and having his son by his side only made it more so. He says it’s not surprising that when they pulled into the gate “some tears came down.”
The younger Flowers says the in-air, father-son working dynamic wasn’t dissimilar from “doing the lawn together, or something of that nature.”
“It just worked out smooth and naturally, and it went great,” he says, although he adds he was definitely trying to “impress” his dad with his skills and competency.
The older Flowers says he was aware the flight was a one-off opportunity for him to pass on flying intel to his son in situ.
“It went really well, it was nice and smooth,” he says of the experience. “And it was an awesome feeling – making a PA to the passengers, and they find out there’s a father and son up there in the cockpit. Everybody clapping…”
Captain Ruben Flowers has now retired from Southwest, but hopes to continue inspiring other aviators
Courtesy Southwest Airlines
Continuing legacy
While the older Flowers has now left Southwest, his legacy lives on at the airline – not only via his son, but via other aviators he worked with and mentored over the years.
Flowers speaks fondly of his own mentor, Louis Freeman, who became Southwest Airlines first Black pilot when he was hired in 1980.
“He was a mentor to me,” says the older Flowers of Freeman. “And now I’m trying to be a mentor to others. And I hope my son can be a mentor to others, not just family members.”
While at Southwest, Flowers was part of the airline’s Adopt-A-Pilot program, working with elementary school kids to inspire them to explore careers in aviation.
He’s also a longtime member of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), where he works to uplift Black aviators.
He encourages prospective pilots to do their research online, look out for programmes, and speak to anyone and everyone they can to get inspiration, information and advice.
The younger Flowers echoes this – he’s actively involved in mentoring young pilots via social media, but he’s also had the occasional in-person conversation with a prospective pilot while transiting through the airport. He says if he can, he’ll always stop and pass on a few words of wisdom between flights.
As for his own personal goals, now that he’s achieved his dream of flying with his father, the younger Flowers next dream is to fly side-by-side with his younger brother, who has just recently completed pilot training.
He’s already had the pleasure of flying with his pilot sister several years ago and says it would be incredible if he could complete the family trifecta.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to, is to be able to fly in the plane with my brother,” he says.
The older Flowers is excited for that day too, and says he’s unendingly proud of his three children.
“It’s unbelievable,” he says. “It’s an awesome feeling to know that my son is flying, and my daughter and my youngest son, all three of them are flyers.”
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Dramatic cloud formations over a Chilean mountainscape, a crocodile devouring a wildebeest and a polar bear cub prancing over an ice shelf.
These are some of the scenes captured by the winners of All About Photo (AAP) magazine’s nature photography contest, a prestigious awards that celebrates photographers who ‘beautifully capture the essence of nature, highlighting the magnificence of landscapes, wildlife, and flora and fauna’.
It’s the first nature-themed contest organised by AAP, a monthly online magazine that endeavours to educate and inspire in all things photography-related by providing a platform to ‘exceptional’ work from around the world.
Twenty-five photographers from 11 countries worldwide have been presented with awards. The grand prize winner is Thomas Vijayan, an Indian wildlife photographer whose subjects include Bornean orangutans and Vietnam’s critically endangered golden-headed langur monkeys.
A statement from AAP Magazine says: ‘Nature photography is a captivating genre that explores and captures the breathtaking beauty of the natural world.’ It adds that this style of photography ‘not only celebrates the earth’s majesty but also serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of conservation and our responsibility to protect our planet for future generations’.
Scroll down to see MailOnline Travel’s pick of the winners – with images from Vijayan’s gold-medal-winning portfolio at the very bottom…
With a tuft of its hair blowing in the wind, this young lion can be seen staring into the distance in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It was captured by Italian photographer Paolo Ameli, who bags a ‘Merit’ award
This green-hued shot shows the red-eyed tree frog in a jungle in Costa Rica’s La Fortuna region. Photographer Pablo Trilles Farrington – the recipient of a ‘Merit’ award – describes the creature as ‘hypnotic’, noting that its distinctive features are its red eyes and the blue stripe that colours its sides. He notes that though these frogs are typically nocturnal, ‘this photograph was taken during the day when the frog was looking for a better place to rest’
In this breathtaking shot, a caravan of camels moves through a storm near the town of Merzouga, which lies in the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Photographer Olivier Unia, the recipient of a ‘Merit’ award, describes the scene as a ‘gift from nature’
This magnificent image shows a group of gelada monkeys – also known as the bleeding-heart monkey – in Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains. Photographer Turgay Uzer, a ‘Merit’ award-winner, says: ‘To protect themselves from leopards, they spend the night on tiny ledges on the impossibly steep cliffs of the mountains and climb back on the plateau at daybreak to graze’
This magical shot of silhouetted gelada monkeys in Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains is the work of Turgay Uzer
A young polar bear cub walks with a spring in its step in this captivating photograph by Turgay Uzer, which is titled: ‘I’ve Got Things To Do And People To See.’ It was captured in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago
Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park was the setting for this mesmerising shot, which shows a ‘young leopard checking on its hoisted kill’ – which means the kill was tugged onto a tree to keep it out of reach of other carnivores. It’s the handiwork of Turgay Uzer
A lion in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park is the subject of this beautifully composed picture by ‘Merit’ award-winner Turgay Uzer
This transfixing shot of a night monkey in Panama’s Parque Nacional Soberania was captured by Turgay Uzer. Describing the creature, he says: ‘It weighs less than one kilogram, has some of the biggest eyes in nature and those long pianists’ fingers!’ Uzer adds: ‘Sadly, the [night monkey] is endangered in Panama because of deforestation, capture for the pet trade and poaching’
Turgay Uzer captured this stunning shot of an elephant feeding on the leaves of acacia trees in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park
Though it looks like they’re enemies, the jaguars in this powerful shot are actually mating, photographer Turgay Uzer reveals. He explains: ‘Big cat mating starts with courting, continues with purring and ends with snarls and violence. And can go on like that for days.’ The picture was captured in Brazil’s Parque Estadual Encontro das Aguas
A crocodile feasts on an unfortunate wildebeest in the Mara River in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve in this jarring shot by Turgay Uzer, titled ‘Dinner Time’
This picture of a leopard cub feeding on an impala kill in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park is the work of Turgay Uzer. He says: ‘We could have been the first humans this cub had seen. The mother left after dragging a heavy impala kill into the thicket. It was aware of us and yet kept on feeding’
U.S photographer Jo Fields captured this striking shot of a non-venomous rat snake on a branch. ‘Many people walking by shuddered with fear and kept walking by,’ Fields says, adding that the snake had just come out of hibernation. Fields snaps up a ‘Merit’ award
This stunning shot shows lenticular clouds over Torres del Paine National Park in Chile’s Patagonia region. Photographer Carmen Villar, who gets a ‘Merit’ award, remarks: ‘Before the sun came up, the colour of the clouds was simply impressive’
This image was captured by overall winner Thomas Vijayan. It shows an inquisitive-looking golden-headed langur, a critically endangered species of monkey endemic to Vietnam’s Cat Ba Island. There are less than 70 golden-headed langurs remaining, the photographer reveals, adding that the species was almost extinct two decades ago, due to poaching for medicine and hunting for sport. Their average body length is 20 inches (50cm) and then their tails extend another three feet (one metre), he says
Behold another spectacular shot captured by overall winner Vijayan, this time showing an orangutan in Tanjung Puting National Park, Borneo
More than 600 photographs were submitted, showcasing the stunning variety of wildlife that calls Norfolk home.
Paul Richards’ photograph capturing hares in the snow was chosen as the judges’ overall favourite, with 11-year-old Amelia Jane Balls being named Best Young Photographer for her image of a hare in the spring sunshine.
The judges’ overall favourite photograph, taken by Paul Richards (Image: Paul Richards)
Best Young Photographer, photo taken by Amelia Jane Balls, aged 11 (Image: Amelia Jane Balls)
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The lucky winners each received a pair of binoculars from the competition’s sponsors, worth more than £1,200.
Both winning images and all 10 runners up have been featured in the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s annual calendar, with all proceeds going towards supporting the charity’s conservation work.
The calendar is available to buy from Norfolk Wildlife Trust visitor centres at Hickling Broad, Ranworth Broad, Holme Dunes and Cley Marshes for £8.99.
Grey seal pup lounging on the beach at Horsey Gap, photograph by John Boyle (Image: John Boyle)
The competition was judged by: Conservationist and wildlife presenter Jess French; wildlife photographer and cameraman Josh Jaggard; wildlife presenter, conservationist and author Ajay Tegala; and Norfolk photographer Paula Cooper.
Fox cubs, South Norfolk. Photograph by Nick Appleton (Image: Nick Appleton)
Mr Tegala said: “There was such a wealth of fantastic photographs, choosing was a challenge but also an absolute pleasure.
“The winning image captures a unique moment in time, in very wintry weather. As well as admiring the beautiful hares in the snowy landscape, you can really imagine the patience and layers of warm clothing that were required to take the photograph.
“Helping judge really highlighted what a rich and wonderful variety of nature Norfolk has and what a talented group of photographers spend time to respectfully capture it.”
Ajay Tegala, one of the judges of the competition (Image: National Trust)
Small red eyed damselflies, Sculthorpe Moor. Photograph taken by Tim Harris (Image: Tim Harris)
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Paula Cooper added: “I loved the winning image – it was very atmospheric, taken in falling snow and showing the interaction of the hares.
“It stood out from the usual hare shots taken in spring.
“The standard of the entries was great, really celebrating the wildlife we have in Norfolk, making it so difficult to judge.”
Bank vole peeping out from fallen leaves, Neatishead. Photograph by Jon Kelf (Image: Jon Kelf)
![This transfixing shot of a night monkey in Panama's Parque Nacional Soberania was captured by Turgay Uzer. Describing the creature, he says: 'It weighs less than one kilogram, has some of the biggest eyes in nature and those long pianists' fingers!' Uzer adds: 'Sadly, the [night monkey] is endangered in Panama because of deforestation, capture for the pet trade and poaching'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/08/09/75204607-12495225-This_transfixing_shot_of_a_night_monkey_in_Panama_s_Parque_Nacio-a-59_1694163427508.jpg)
