A globular cluster glitters with starlight in a new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Located 15,000 light-years from Earth, the globular cluster — formally known as Terzan 12 — is nestled deep in our Milky Way galaxy, in the constellation of Sagittarius. A globular cluster contains hundreds of thousands to millions of stars tightly bound together by gravity, causing the large structures to appear spherical when viewed from Earth.
Hubble, a joint mission of NASA and the European Space Agency, snapped a new view of Terzan 12 shrouded in gas and dust, which absorb and alter the starlight emanating from the globular cluster. A higher concentration of stars can be seen near the center of Terzan 12. This densely-packed group shines extra bright in the new Hubble photo.
Related: Mysterious globular clusters could unlock the secrets of galaxy formation
“The Milky Way has about 150 ancient globular clusters at its outskirts,” NASA officials said in a statement. “These clusters orbit around the galactic center, but far above and below the pancake-flat plane of our galaxy, like bees buzzing around a hive.”
In the new Hubble photo, the interstellar dust particles scatter blue light, causing only the redder wavelengths from the cluster to come through to our view. The brightest red stars in the photo are massive, aging giants several times larger than the sun. The bright blue stars in the photo are not part of the cluster; they’re located in the foreground of the image, unobscured by interstellar material.
The globular cluster Terzan 12 lies 15,000 light-years from Earth. It is nestled deep in the Milky Way, in the constellation of Sagittarius. Its aging stars appear bright red due to the clouds of interstellar dust and gas that obscure our view. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, ESA/Hubble, Roger Cohen (RU))
Hubble photographed Terzan 12 as part of an initiative to investigate the globular clusters located toward the center of our galaxy, where, compared to the outer halo of the Milky Way, there are relatively few, according to the NASA statement.
Using Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide-Field Camera 3, astronomers were able to study the relationship between age and composition of the galaxy’s innermost globular clusters, compared to those scattered throughout the Milky Way. NASA shared the glittering photo of Terzan 12 on Sept. 7.
Aim and shoot. It may seem simple to a novice in the world of photography, but anyone who has tried to capture the right image on a cell phone knows that is not true.
Delete. Delete. Delete.
Paula Glaser did not have to delete when she captured a stunning image of a mountain lion in Utah showing its feline prowess in a simple jump.
The photo, called “Leap of Faith,” was among entries submitted to The Nature Conservancy’s global contest last year aimed at promoting and celebrating nature that is all around us, the threats to the environment and the reason to be good stewards of the only place we can call home. It did not win, but it reminds you of something outside yourself.
In 2022, the competition had the largest global participation ever, with entries from 196 different countries and territories across six different categories. Winning images were selected by a panel of judges that included renowned conservation photographer Ami Vitale and Coyote Peterson, host of YouTube’s Brave Wilderness.
From more than 100,000 entries, the contest’s winning photo featured a drone’s eye view of a lonely highway in Tibet, bordered on each side by gullies extending outward in the shape of a tree. It was taken by photographer Li Ping in China, who slept in a roadside parking lot overnight to get this striking early morning shot.
The contest is expanding this year and offers another opportunity for photographers in Utah and the West to get in on the action for cash awards of more than $25,000. This is the way to enter.
Last year put the world and nature on stage through the eye of the camera and the person behind it.
“The diversity of images from around the world gave a glimpse into our fragile planet and all the life that inhabits it,” said judge Ami Vitale. “The contest itself was a mesmerizing odyssey and we are left with a profound message of how interconnected all of us are and what it means to our own survival to intermingle with wildness.”
The Nature Conservancy is active in Utah and a vital part of protecting Great Salt Lake wetlands and other vital landscapes, such as the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve.
Related
The organization captures attention with boots on the ground conservation, outreach and of course, this contest.
“These incredible images from talented photographers all over the world remind us how connected we are to each other and to this beautiful planet, and at the same time of the challenges we face,” said Meg Goldthwaite, chief marketing and communications officer for The Nature Conservancy. “It energizes us as we work to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends, so that future generations can enjoy the same natural wonders depicted in these amazing photos.”
The attorney for a man convicted of killing 2-year-old Faviola Rodriguez requested a new trial Friday after citing the discovery of new medical evidence that may cast doubt on the nature of her death.
The motion comes a week after a jury convicted Lalo Anthony Castrillo IV, 28, on one count of intentional abuse of a child resulting in death. The crime comes with a life sentence.
During the five-day trial, prosecutors accused Castrillo of killing Baby Favi, as the community has come to know her, and presented medical evidence suggesting she suffered blunt force trauma caused by a person.
Castrillo was the only person with Baby Favi the night of her death and, according to phone records presented during the trial, searched “cariogenic shock,” “how to get blood pumping when a child is in shock,” and “child chokes on throw-up during sleep” before calling police.
Photo on Facebook could mean a new trial
Castrillo’s defense pushed back on the medical evidence by presenting a retired medical examiner during the trial who said that the manner of death was impossible to determine. The defense also raised the possibility that Baby Favi sustained a head injury at a park before she died.
Castrillo’s attorney, Jose Coronado, doubled down on that theory in the retrial request. In the motion requesting a new trial, Coronado pointed to a photo posted on Facebook by Baby Favi’s mother, Saundra Gonzales, the day the trial ended. Coronado said the photo shows Favi with a bruise on her head.
That would contradict the testimony of Gonzales and a nurse practitioner who examined Favi hours before her death, according to Coronado’s motion. Both said Favi showed no bruises the day before her death.
A review of Gonzales’ public Facebook page shows she posted two photos of Favi, one the day before the trial ended and one the day after.
The first photo is of Favi at Unidad Park (sometimes called Wooden Park), and the second is of her sitting on a box. The first photo is at the center of Coronado’s retrial request.
In the motion, Coronado alleges that Favi may have injured herself at Unidad Park and sustained a bruise that swelled until it pressured her brain and killed her days later.
Legal biases of a new trial
Ultimately, the decision for a new trial will be in the hands of Judge James Waylon Counts, who’s been given a mandate from the state Supreme Court to oversee this case.
For Counts to find that a new trial is warranted, state law says he must find that:
Newly discovered evidence could change the result.
The evidence was discoverable before the trial occurred.
The defense could not have discovered the evidence.
The evidence is material (meaning it reaches a degree of significance).
It’s not cumulative (meaning it does not repeat evidence already shown to the jury) and does not solely question the testimony of a witness.
Coronado specified he believes the photo meets those criteria.
“(The photo) substantiates the defense position that Faviola R. had fallen before; it substantiates the defense position that on September 5 or 6, 2018, Mr. Castrillo did not cause the contusion in (the photo),” Coronado said.
Coronado adds that there was no way of knowing the photo existed because Gonzales did not turn it over to prosecutors as potential evidence. The photo at Unidad Park was posted on Aug. 31, the day before the trial ended, and appears to have never been posted.
When might the hearing to decide a retrial occur?
Counts has not set a hearing date to determine if he will allow a new trial as of the publication of this article. However, the hearing will likely occur before a sentencing hearing set for Sept. 19. If no new trial occurs, Castrillo could face life in prison. He would be eligible for parole after 30 years.
The Sun-News reached out to the District Attorney’s Office for comment and is awaiting a response. Coronado declined to comment, stating that he feels the motion speaks for itself.
Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Castrillo’s lawyer calls for new trial after photo posted of Baby Favi
This couple incorporated décor elements inspired by their Northern Michigan lake house, including birch trees, moss, mushrooms, and stones.
Kristen and Brandon met on a blind date arranged by mutual friends in 2017 when they both lived in Chicago. After the couple’s friends tried to get them to meet organically at group events—only to have one of them cancel each time—they encouraged Brandon to make a move. “I have his first text screenshotted and we still laugh because he completely forgot to say who it was and just asked me out with no introduction,” Kristen says.
In 2019, for her 30th birthday, Brandon surprised Kristen with a trip to Iceland. The couple rented a quaint cabin in the mountains where Brandon got ready for a proposal. He lit candles around the cabin and the couple slow danced to their favorite song when Brandon got down on one knee to pop the question—and the couple rang in the New Year two days later as an engaged couple.
Kristen and Brandon wanted to get married in Northern Michigan, where the bride’s family has a home on Torch Lake; she has invited Brandon’s family to spend time there every summer, so the area had sentimental value to the couple. They invited 135 guests to watch them exchange vows at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Petoskey, Mich., followed by a tented reception at EK Preserve in Boyne Falls. The couple worked with Ann Travis and her team at Ann Travis Events to pull together a nature-inspired wedding with a color palette of earthy creams, pale pink, light peach, mossy green, and hints of navy.
Related: 40 of Our Favorite Ideas for Your Fall Wedding
A River Runs Through It
Brandon spent the morning fishing for trout in the river on-site at EK Preserve with his groomsmen and ushers before getting ready for the wedding.
The Handsome Couple
Kristen wore the very first wedding dress she ever tried on—an A-line corseted Graziana Valentini gown with floral embellishments that was altered to create a sweetheart neckline. After checking out a variety of styles and narrowing her prospects down to two options, she decided that she wanted her wedding dress to feel like something she would normally choose in real life. “I’m sure I would have been happy either way, but I felt like ‘me’ in that dress and was so comfortable all night long,” Kristen says.
She accessorized the garment with a simple gold herringbone necklace and matching bracelet from Bony Levy. She also wore grandmother’s thin gold ring on her right hand as a way to include her in the big she; she was unable to attend.
A Colorful Clutch of Blooms
The bride held a natural, hand-tied bouquet of seasonal spray roses, garden roses, ranunculus, white berries, greenery, and fall foliage. The arrangement, made by BLOOM Floral Design, was tied with a blush silk ribbon holding the bride’s great-grandmother’s blue stone brooch. “This brooch has been passed from bride to bride in our family, so it was so special to be able to include it in my bouquet,” Kristen says. “My favorite detail however, was the strands of pearls we trimmed from my mom’s wedding veil and intertwined into the silk ribbon so that they fell down over the front of the arrangement and hung over my hands as I walked down the aisle.”
Beautiful Boutonnières
In addition to the groom’s navy tuxedo with black lapels and a black bow tie, he also wore gold cuff links with his initials on them; Kristen gave them to him on the morning of his wedding. The finishing touch? A boutonnière that spoke to the bride’s bouquet.
Cinnamon and Navy
Kristen picked out a cinnamon rose shade from Jenny Yoo and asked her bridesmaids to choose a floor-length dress in their favorite style. “Our wedding was September 4, which can be warm and still feel like summer or cool and feel like the start of fall,” she says. “I wanted a color that wouldn’t feel too summery if it was cool—or too wintery if it was a hot Labor Day weekend.”
Kristen also asked her eight best friends from college who were not in the bridal party to dress in shades of blue to be her “something blue.” The groomsmen wore navy suits and ties to coordinate with Brandon—they also matched the pair’s three nephews and two nieces, who dressed in dark blue for their roles as ring bearers and flower girls.
Woodsy Programs
The couple’s invitation suite included neutral colors with a birch bark background. “It was a nod to the wooded feel and natural elements that we incorporated throughout the weekend,” Kristen says. “The birch tree, in particular, was a highlight.” Other woodland motifs, such as subtle illustrations of mushrooms, appeared on the menus, drink signs, place cards, and ceremony cards, pictured here.
Going to the Chapel
The couple’s ceremony took place in a stone chapel atop a hill overlooking the town with stained glass windows. “Our favorite part was the arched wood ceiling that was designed to look like the hull of a ship,” Kristen says. They kept the décor simple with flower arrangements on the floor near the altar and cascading down the steps.
When Kristen walked down the aisle with her dad, Maurice, it was the first time Brandon saw her on the big day. “Kristen got her wish—the waterworks started as soon as I saw her,” he says. “My best man Tom patted me on my back and it quickly turned into the best moment of my life.”
The couple’s religious ceremony was officiated by long-time family friend Monsignor Kenneth Velo, along with Reverend Kay Houck, the local reverend at the church. Monsignor Velo married Kristen’s parents and many of her family members, so the couple was happy to have him officiate their wedding, as well.
Cocktail Hour in the Mist
The couple’s cocktail hour took place on the venue’s front lawn, where bistro tables and a bar were set up underneath the trees.
On the Lawn
While roaming the property, guests enjoyed passed appetizers including mini beef wellington, sweet and sour meatballs, and fresh fruit kabobs. Kristen’s signature cocktail was a cucumber melon martini with mint, and Brandon’s signature cocktail was a bourbon paper plane.
Soft Jazz
The pair hired a jazz quartette—they stayed dry under a covered patio—to play the classics.
The Rainy Photoshoot
After taking group photos underneath the reception’s tent, Kristen and Brandon walked around the property with their photographer, Clary, and videographer, Emily. Realizing they would get wet eventually, the couple put down their umbrellas and slow danced in the rain. “Even with two photographers and two videographers, it felt like we were completely alone,” Kristen says. “We were soaked by the end and I had to throw my hair in a ponytail for the rest of the night but it was absolutely worth it for the rainy moments they captured.”
A Magnificent Tent
Kristen and Brandon’s wedding reception took place underneath a sailcloth tent. “The EK Preserve was the very first venue we saw and we absolutely fell in love as soon as we drove down the windy driveway,” Kristen says, “It had all the features we were hoping to find in a venue—a sprawling outdoor space, lots of nature, and a casual chic vibe that we hadn’t found anywhere else.”
Foliage-Filled Entrance
BLOOM Floral Design decorated the entrance to the tent with florals in copper-and-orange tones paired with Spanish moss and greenery. “The overall floral design was absolutely stunning and unlike anything we’d seen before,” the bride says.
Related: Here’s What Every Type of Wedding Tent Looks Like
Find Your Seat
The couple’s stationer created dye-cut fish for the couple’s custom escort wall that featured the same mushroom botanical sketches that were seen on the menus and place cards. “There were subtle nods to nature in all of the details and it was exactly what we dreamed of,” Kristen says.
Flowers on the Bar
A stately stained wood bar was topped with an asymmetrical arrangement and a mix of candles; crawling branches and additional florals anchored the station.
In the Round
Round tables were topped with terra-cotta patterned linens and circled with bentwood chairs. “The centerpieces included soft, subtle autumn tones and transitional foliage to capture the essence of the season,” the bride says.
Wood Tones
Long, dark wooden tables added structure to the tent; they were lined with neutral runners and a series of arrangements in compotes.
Under the Birch Trees
The couple made three 20-foot-tall faux birch trees to wrap around the tent’s center poles. “We spent weeks building these and covering them in real birch bark from fallen trees on our property on Torch Lake,” Kristen says. “We foraged live moss and mushrooms to add and even etched a heart with our initials on the main trunk.” Chandeliers made from real branches framed the birch poles, casting shadows on the tent ceiling all evening.
Textural Place Settings
Place settings featured scalloped plates with a green leaf design, rattan chargers, and matte black flatware. “Set atop each plate was a Petoskey stone that had been handpicked by our families from our lake home beach and polished by my dad,” Kristen says. “It was a little piece of Northern Michigan for our guests to take home with them.”
A Locally Sourced Meal
The couple sourced the majority of the food, beer, and liquor from Michigan vendors, breweries, distilleries, and wineries. They served fresh Michigan whitefish and filet mignon with roasted seasonal vegetables tossed with penne noodles and a parmesan pesto cream for dinner.
For dessert, they skipped a traditional wedding cake and served bite-sized cupcakes, cookies, rice crispy treats, cherry pies, cinnamon sugar donuts, and lemon bars. They also had a s’mores station by the river and served pizza and burgers as a late-night snack.
Their First Dance
Kristen and Brandon shared their first dance to James Arthur’s “Falling Like The Stars.” “We’d listen to it and smile at certain lines because it’d make us think of our own relationship and it had the overall vibe we wanted for our first dance,” Kristen says. After, the bride danced with her dad to a duet version of Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.” “When I was a little girl, we would spin around our family room dancing to it,” she says.
Brandon shared a special dance with his mom to a live rendition of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.” “Whenever I hear it, I send her a text to let her know it’s on and that I’m thinking of her,” the groom says. The couple worked with the band’s manager to customize the song and create a transition to get everyone on the dance floor at the end. “It was fun to hear the band’s take on the song while having that special moment with my mom,” Brandon says.
Related: Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline and Checklist
Oh, What a Night
The couple spent the rest of the evening on the dance floor with their guests. “You almost felt like you were at a private concert rather than a wedding,” Kristen says. “We had a 12-piece band that could literally play anything you threw at them.” When Gold Coast All Stars played “Love Shack,” a tradition for the Bride’s family, they had everyone singing at the top of their lungs. “The dance floor was packed from the very beginning and never emptied until we had to literally force people on the buses to leave,” the bride says.
To couples who are currently planning a wedding, Kirsten and Brandon recommend taking a moment to step away with your spouse during the reception. “Brandon came and grabbed me off the dance floor so that the two of us could step outside by ourselves and take it all in,” Kristen says. “We sat out by the bonfire and watched as all of our loved ones and closest friends danced the night away, laughing and singing their hearts out under the tent. It was so special.”
Sources
Photography, Clary Pfeiffer Photography Ceremony Venue, Emmanuel Episcopal Church Reception Venue, EK Preserve Wedding Planning and Event Design, Ann Travis Events Wedding Coordination, Andrea Mikolon, Boyne Mountain Videography, Out of the Blue Floral Design, BLOOM Floral Design Invitations and Paper Products, Jade Social Officiants, Monsignor Kenneth Velo, Reverend Kay Houck Bride’s Dress, Valenti Bride’s Jewelry, Bony Levy Bride’s Shoes, Franco Sarto Bride’s Hair and Makeup, The Spa at Inn at Bay Harbor Bridesmaids’ Attire, Jenny Yoo Menswear, The Suit Shop Engagement Ring, Best Friends Diamonds and Gems Music, Gold Coast All Stars Guest Book, Modern Album Designs Catering, Boyne Mountain Desserts, Simply Sweet by Jessica
Wendy Jordan offers both healing sessions and classes in Reiki at her East Peoria home.
EAST PEORIA – Reiki master Wendy Jordan used to see clients on a mountain near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Now she works on the deck of her East Peoria home beside a waterfall flowing into pond filled with giant koi fish.
“I made a vow years ago, that whenever I do healing work, I want to be in nature because that’s what opened me up spiritually,” said Jordan, owner of Wendy Jordan Healing Arts. “I just didn’t want to be some place where you had to rent a little room and have it feel kind of medical.”
A Chicago native, Jordan lived in Santa Fe for 13 years before moving back to Illinois in 2022 to be closer to her grandchildren. The home, situated on a wooded lot near Germantown Hills, is what brought Jordan and her husband, Roger Ayres, who is also a Reiki master, to the Peoria area.
“It’s like one of my little angels up there put this house on Zillow one day,” said Jordan. “We were not even looking at Peoria — I knew nothing about it. And I’m like, ‘Roger, look at this. With the pond and everything, wouldn’t that be the perfect place for people to come and get their stress relieving treatments?’ And here we are.”
Reiki master Wendy Jordon sees clients on the back deck of her East Peoria home, which overlooks a waterfall and koi-filled pond.
The road to Reiki
Jordan was working as a corporate photographer and videographer when she discovered Reiki, which is based on the Eastern idea that vital energy flows though the body. The Reiki practitioner helps promote healing and balance by redistributing energy through gentle touch or by simply holding their hands above a client’s energy centers.
“I was fascinated. As a photographer, we are all about our eyes and seeing. … There was nothing like, ‘OK, shut it all down, close your eyes and feel it with your heart, and see what you are capable of,’” said Jordan. “We all have this wonderful ability, tapping into what’s out there in the natural world without using our five senses – it’s kind of opening up the third eye, as we say.”
More: ‘Healing the body and mind’: This Peoria business offers holistic medical techniques
Though Jordan took her first class just for fun, it began a journey that changed her life. She embarked on a year-long study program. When she got back home to Chicago, she began advertising her new side business, and by the early 2000s she was able to leave corporate photography behind.
Today, Jordan offers both healing treatments and classes. Treatments cost $95 for an hour, $130 for 90 minutes or $240 for three one-hour sessions. Jordon also does distant healings — an hourlong phone session is $85, and three sessions are $200.
Healing near and far
“So we all know the power of prayer, and energy work is actually the same way,” said Jordan about distant healing. “To this day, it’s almost like I do it and I can’t believe it — it’s like a miracle. You can send the energy, you can send the intention and literally pick up on the energy field of the person that’s nowhere in the vicinity and send healing. I have done that for many people when they’re in surgery. … It kind of creates this spiritual bubble around everybody in the operating room, that tapping in and asking the spiritual beings that are out there — the gods or angels, whoever you want to believe in — to just be there with that person, to keep the doctor focused. It’s like you give everybody the right energy, just make it the perfect place to do it and surgeries go better.”
Jordan’s clients from Santa Fe often request distant healings.
“I was surprised when I moved here, how many people still call me and say, ‘I can’t see you in person, but could we just try it?’” said Jordan. “They know me, and I know their energy so well. And we talk on the phone for a little while. Then I might take them through a meditation. … It gets them in this nice place, and I say ‘OK I’m gonna work on you, just hang up the phone,’ and they text me either later in the day or the next day and go, ‘Oh my gosh!’ It’s just sort of a blessing that we were given, as humans, that we can do this.”
More: This Peoria Heights yoga studio came out of the pandemic with a renewed spirit
Leslie Renken can be reached at (309) 370-5087 or [email protected]. Follow her on Facebook.com/leslie.renken.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Wendy Jordan Healing Arts in East Peoria IL offers Reiki stress relief
We’ve all heard the phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This suggests that if you can simply see something, then you can understand the situation perfectly. In my line of work, however, this is often a gross underestimate of the power of a photo.
In many cases, one of my photos might be worth several thousand words because the photo needs to be explained in several different ways. So I am going to attempt to explain the significance of this week’s photo in 1,000 words or less. Here goes.
It was Aug. 22 and I was returning to my house after another successful visit to my Thinking Chair. During an epic 3-hour session that started at 5:55 a.m., I had managed to accomplish a feat that I had initially thought to be impossible. I had tied the seemingly unbreakable record of observing 64 species in my yard in the month of August. I was absolutely giddy with self-satisfaction.
It was no accident that I had tied the “unbreakable” record. I had certainly put in the time by making 13 visits to the Thinking Chair in 22 days. But time alone is not always going to produce results. You also need a lot of luck and possibly even a smidgen of divine intervention. For this, I rely upon Nikonus and Iso, the photo gods.
Nikonus is the god of timing and he is rather brutal. He will present you with a species, but you have to be quick enough to see it. Iso is the goddess of color and light. Far more compassionate, she dictates the conditions necessary for good photography. Together, they determine if I can take a photograph or not.
So there I was, walking out onto my deck after reaching an amazing milestone when all of a sudden I caught sight of a bird that simply didn’t fit the setting. From the far railing, this bird flies up and I am struck with the simple impression of a gray bird with long wings and a relatively short tail. I would have dismissed it as a mourning dove, but the tail was wrong.
My birder’s brain sent back a reactionary identification after this split second and imperfect view, but I needed to see the bird again to confirm. Nikonus had offered up a challenge, I had been in the right place at the right time and he was so pleased that he gave me an extra moment.
The bird was up in my cottonwood tree and I was able to find it and confirm my initial identification. It was a brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) and it was the species that set a new record. I was elated, but there was also a note of disappointment because of the nature of the species in question. The brown-headed cowbird is a species that is described as a “nest parasite.” This means that female cowbirds will find the nests of other birds and then lay one of their own eggs into the nest of the unfortunate host. If things work out, then the host birds will raise the baby cowbirds as their own. At no point will cowbirds raise their own offspring.
This is often devastating to the host species for two reasons. First, the host loses an egg when the cowbird makes a deposit because the female will physically remove it. Second, the cowbird chick is so much larger than the host species that it crowds out the remaining chicks (causing their deaths) and occupies all of the feeding efforts of the adults. The eastern phoebes that nest by my front door are plagued by cowbirds and sometimes there are very few phoebe chicks to show for months of effort by the parent birds.
So, while delighted that I had broken the unbreakable record, I was also a little disappointed by the identity of the species involved. I went into the house, put down some of my gear and then made the decision to go back out onto the deck to get a photo that would prove that I had seen this particular species at this particular time. This is when the photo gods decided to reward me for my dedication. The cowbird flew down into a large bush just behind my house and perched on an exposed branch. I focused, snapped a few photos and grumbled slightly while doing it. Then I saw the cowbird’s wings begin to flutter in a manner that has a distinct and unmistakable meaning, “Feed me.”
This could only mean that the cowbird’s host parent was nearby and the cowbird expected an imminent delivery of food. Stunned, I kept my eyes peeled on the young bird in anticipation of the arrival of the parent, and I was rewarded for my dedication when a female Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) appeared with a green insect in her beak. She quickly shoved the food into the gaping mouth of the young cowbird and then zipped off to find yet another morsel for “her” baby.
In all of my years of wildlife observation, this was the first (and only) time that I had ever witnessed a parasitized species feeding the offspring of a nest parasite. I had not seen a cowbird in my yard in weeks and the only reason that I saw this particular bird in it that particular moment was the female yellowthroat had wandered up out of the meadow into the tall grasses and forbs of my backyard in search of food for the behemoth that she was trying to feed. The cowbird was following its mother and disappeared soon after. Had I not been in that particular place at that particular time, I would have been totally unaware of the entire event.
As summer comes to a close, our backyard birds are quiet as they prepare for migration or hunker down for winter
Well, that was 870 words and I have only managed to scratch the surface of this story. Unanswered questions are: How did it come to pass that cowbirds developed this breeding strategy? Why do other birds fall for this trick? Are there any species that are not as easily fooled? When did I first detect the presence of Nikonus and Iso? These are all questions that would require other columns to answer, but I am out of space for this week.
I end with the same message that I try to deliver every week. Keep your eyes open and make sure you look out a window from time to time. Amazing things are happening out in nature every day and sometimes they are happening in your very own backyard. If you tear your eyes away from the myriad screens that surround you every day and take a peek outside, then perhaps Nikonus and Iso with reward you with something amazing to see.
Bill Danielson has been a professional writer and nature photographer for 26 years. He has worked for the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Nature Conservancy and the Massachusetts State Parks and has taught biology and physics at Pittsfield High School for 20 years. For more information, visit his website at speakingofnature.com.
LA JOLLA, CA — Patch reader Lola Watson captured this sunset photo at La Jolla Shores.
Thanks for sharing!
If you have an awesome picture of nature, breathtaking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.
We’re looking for high-resolution, horizontal images that reflect the beauty that is San Diego County, and that show off your unique talents.
Send your photos to [email protected]. Be sure to include photo credit information, when and where the shot was taken, and any other details about what was going on.
For those in search of the Earth’s most wondrous natural spectacles, there are few geological tapestries like the American Southwest anywhere else on the planet. From the enchanting crimson canyons of upstate Arizona to the towering mesas of Utah and the serene vistas of New Mexico – this region is brimming with the miraculous beauty of nature.
Eons of geological processes have sculpted this breathtaking corner of the world, and various subregions have their own unique stories to tell, too. In this blog post, we are embarking on a journey through the natural wonders of the American Southwest. We’ll find out how these majestic canyons and mesas formed and unlock the hidden secrets while exploring the dynamic features of these remarkable landscapes.
There is no question why they call it colorful Colorado as dappled light and dreamy clouds drift over the top of the San Juan Mountains outside Ridgway, Colorado. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
History of the American Southwest
The American Southwest largely owes its stunning landscapes to a complex interplay of geologic and tectonic processes that have unfolded over hundreds of millions of years. These natural processes have created some of the most unique and striking features on the planet. Perhaps the greatest factor shaping this region’s distinctive geology is the fact that much of it was once submerged beneath an ancient, shallow sea.
Millions of years ago – during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, to be precise – large portions of what we now know as the Southwest were covered by vast, inland seas. The Sonoran Desert, for instance, was once a part of this seabed. Over time, the accumulation of sediment and the remains of decomposing marine organisms formed thick layers of limestone and shale, which today comprise the rock formations of the arid, desert landscape.
As tectonic plates shifted and collided, the Southwest experienced several dramatic upheavals. The formation of the Rocky Mountains to the north played an important part in shaping the region for a number of reasons. The uplifting of these mountains caused the Colorado Plateau, which includes the Grand Canyon, to rise and tilt, exposing the sedimentary rock layers that had been accumulating for millions of years.
The Grand Canyon itself is another example of a beautiful natural feature that owes its existence to the passage of time. The Colorado River, carving through the plateau for around a cool six million years, has slowly exposed the intricate layers of rock that now line the canyon walls. This geologic time capsule displays countless layers of rock dating back nearly two billion years, providing scientists and enthusiasts a titillating opportunity to study Earth’s geologic history.
The extraordinary geologic diversity of the American Southwest can be attributed to their origins as ancient seabeds, massive shifts in tectonic forces, as well as the erosional prowess of wind and water. Nowhere else on earth offers such a concentrated display of geological marvels – from the vivid rock layers of Zion National Park to the surreal hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, and the iconic monoliths throughout Monument Valley.
At the end of the day, it’s the harmonic convergence of geological history and the relentless work of natural forces that have shaped these gorgeous landscapes, making the American Southwest an unparalleled showroom of our planet’s cataclysmic history.
A weathered sandstone cliffside becomes a bolt of lavender silk beneath the evening light at Factory Butte, Utah. The folds and furrows of the rippled face chart the path of desert rains as they traverse the striated chronicle of the rock. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
Nevada Landscape Photography
While the bright lights of Las Vegas immediately come to mind for many when you mention Nevada, the state is made up of much more than deserts, cacti and the city of sin. Home to the Great Basin and Mohave Deserts, Nevada’s landscape is also marked by ancient lakebeds and expansive salt flats. Nevada also boasts the iconic Sierra Nevada mountain range, with its jagged peaks and glacial-carved valleys.
The Silver State’s geologic treasures also include active fault lines, such as the Walker Lane, and hot springs, which is evidence that many of the geologic forces that shaped this region are still at work to this day.
The colorful sandstone formations of Valley of Fire State Park and the world-renowned geothermal wonders of the Black Rock Desert are also captivating destinations for geology, nature, and photography enthusiasts alike.
My two personal favorite photography locations in Nevada are Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area. Other locations that are popular with photographers include the Black Rock Desert & High Rock Canyon. Great Basin National Park, located in East-Central Nevada, is a popular destination for astro (or night photography) due to dark skies. On the border of Nevada & California, Lake Tahoe is not only a popular tourist location, but a top choice for natures photographers as well.
Cloud shadows flow across the face of the scarred peaks of Colorado’s Maroon Bells Wilderness. Glimpses of jade boulders on the lakebottom are seen through the veil of gold radiated by the autumnal aspens on the shore. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
Colorado Landscape Photography
Colorado’s hallmark – the Rocky Mountains – stretches from New Mexico to British Columbia, Canada, showcasing towering peaks, glacial valleys, and abundant mineral deposits. Colorado shares the Colorado Plateau with the rest of the Southwest, featuring iconic red rock formations as seen in Arizona and Utah.
Colorado’s high plains, deep canyons (like the Black Canyon of the Gunnison), and diverse ecosystems are what set this state apart from others in the region. Colorado’s alpine landscape and varied geologic formations add to the richness of the American Southwest’s geological wonders.
As a lover of both the mountains, and the crisp air and beautiful changing colors of autumn, Colorado is my favorite state in all of the American southwest. Colorado is simply packed with amazing landscape photography possibilities. I could spends weeks in the area between Telluride & Ouray, to Ridgway via Last Dollar Road alone during autumn. Crested Butte and Aspen, with the iconic Maroon Bells are also must see destinations for nature and landscape photography. If you haven’t seen Colorado in the fall, you really need to move it to the top of your list.
The bleached trunks of a grove of quaking aspen stand like the columns of a Hellenic ruin near Aspen, Colorado. Wreaths of golden leaves crown the neat pillars and their colors are reflected in the meadows of grass below. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
Arizona Landscape Photography
The Sonoran Desert, the Grand Canyon, and the mesmerizing red rock formations of Sedona – Arizona has a lot to offer. The Sonoran Desert dominates southern Arizona, peppered with the iconic saguaro cactus which can be found nowhere else on earth.
The Grand Canyon also sees close to five million visitors per year and is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. People from all over travel to experience the sheer vastness of nature’s creations firsthand, and for good reason. The landmarks, the cacti, the blistering heat, and incredible biodiversity – the American Southwest is truly something to behold.
Aside from the Grand Canyon, some of my personal favorite places to photograph are the incredible slot canyons of Page, Coal Mine Canyon and the otherworldly lunar landscapes of White Pocket. Even Horseshoe Bend, as overrun and photographed to death as it is, should be a quick stop on your list if you have never seen it. Some nature photographers like to trash talk heavily trafficked locations but the truth is that they are popular for a reason. Many of these photographers only talk down these locations AFTER they have already visited the area themselves. 😉
A plume of dust, stirred by the swirling winds of a sculpted slot canyon are caught in a lone beam of sun penetrating the maze. Flashed to blinding white, the dancing motes become an eerie inferno, yawning out of a portal to another world. Fine Art Limited Edition of 100
Utah Landscape Photography
This state is renowned for its intricate, multicolored sandstone formations, best epitomized by the dramatic spires and arches of Arches National Park and the incomparable Bryce Canyon.
Monument Valley’s iconic buttes and mesas gloriously exemplify the region’s rocky terrain. Indeed, Utah’s geological masterpieces are deeply intertwined with the broader Southwestern themes. The state’s natural treasures are a testament to the extraordinary forces that have helped shape this precious corner of the globe.
Utah is one of the most geologically diverse states in America and as a result hosts a wide variety of amazing landscapes for any nature photographer. My personal favorites include Zion National Park, Factory Butte, Canyonlands and Bryce Canyon. Other popular locations include Capital Reef National Park, the Utah Badlands, Arches National Park and located on the border with Arizona, the iconic Monument Valley, where I was fortunate enough to witness and photograph an extremely rare tornado back in 2015.
Transform your space with Aaron Reed’s luxury fine art photography print, The Window, from his Panoramic Wall Art collection. Order yours today! Fine Art Limited Edition of 100
New Mexico Landscape Photography
New Mexico is a study in contrasts, featuring both high desert plateaus, expansive sand dunes in White Sands National Park, and the rugged peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Its landscape bears evidence of volcanic activity, with the Valles Caldera and the Malpais lava fields offering incredible views.
The state’s rich history, influenced by its Native American, Spanish, and Wild West heritage, is etched into its geology, making New Mexico an enthralling destination for both natural and cultural exploration.
While New Mexico is the one state on this list I have not visited personally, other popular photography destinations include the Bisti Badlands & Shiprock. For those looking for less trafficked and unique photography opportunities, New Mexico may be just what you are looking for!
A false snow of satin white sand is draped like a fur mantle before the nebulous blue of a faraway mountain range. The ordered lattice of waves and troughs which cover each dune impart the appearance of a giant bed of coral. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
Nature Photographers Playground
Because the region features flora and fauna that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, and because of the diverse landscapes and vibrancy of Southwest, many photographers simply cannot resist the siren’s call. With iconic natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and Arches National Park, these landmarks offer instantly recognizable subjects for photographers seeking to capture the beauty of the natural world.
The region’s clear, high-altitude areas provide excellent lighting and atmospheric conditions for capturing landscapes and night skies. There are several dark sky sites throughout the Southwest that draw astrophotographers in addition to nature photographers.
From the deserts of Arizona and Nevada to the lush forests of the Colorado Plateau, the Southwest provides an amazing range of differing terrain, each with its own visual appeal and photographic opportunities. And for those who are seeking solitude and unspoiled landscapes, the Southwest has vast expanses of wilderness where photographers can connect with nature and share truly unique and awe-inspiring images.
Golden light from the early morning sun illuminates a forest of beautiful aspen trees at the peak of autumn in Telluride, Colorado. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
The desert sun shines down through an iridescent portal in one of Antelope Canyon’s famous slot canyons. Over the eons, the solid rock has begun to take on the shape of the wild rivers which have carved their way through it. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
A tattered ladder of torn timbers bears the cantilevered weight of an old mill outside Carbondale, Colorado. Beneath the clouded sky, canary bursts of fall aspens adorn the tranquil glades beneath the snow capped Rockies. Fine Art Limited Edition of 100.
Branches like arteries stretch in every direction providing the nutrients of life to the leaves of this Aspen tree in Ridgway, Colorado. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
IMPERIAL BEACH, CA — Patch reader and local photographer Paul Gallegos captured this photo of seaweed at Imperial Beach.
Thanks for sharing!
If you have an awesome picture of nature, breathtaking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.
We’re looking for high-resolution, horizontal images that reflect the beauty that is San Diego County, and that show off your unique talents.
Send your photos to [email protected]. Be sure to include photo credit information, when and where the shot was taken, and any other details about what was going on.
It’s an art fair week in New York City, which means Uber prices will be surging and high-heeled feet aching all across Manhattan well into Sunday. This season marks the debut of newcomer PHOTOFAIRS, which focuses on photo-based and digital artworks from fifty-six galleries across the world. The fair runs at the Javits Center from September 8 through September 10, with VIP previews starting tomorrow. Director Helen Toomer came to the fair having previously directed IFPDA Fine Art Print Fair, PULSE Contemporary Art Fairs and Collective Design Fair. She recently caught up with Observer to talk about her latest endeavor.
Helen Toomer, director of PHOTOFAIRS New York. Casey Kelbaugh
Why does New York need another art fair?
New York is the center of the global art world and the pulse of what’s next in contemporary art. Yet there is this rapidly evolving area of contemporary art, where photo-based practices and new technologies are intersecting, that has no dedicated platform to explore it. There is so much exciting work happening in this sphere, as well as a growing audience for it, that it needs its own devoted space and platform to support and continue driving it forward. PHOTOFAIRS New York is not just bringing a new dimension to the art fair landscape in New York but also to the arts ecosystem overall.
Where does photography fit in the modern world, where the average person consumes an insane amount of photos on social media daily?
Photography is a language I never tired of and one in which we are all visually well versed. That means that photography and image-making are absolutely core to our culture, so we can’t understand the story of art making without the story of photography.
Photography and digital works don’t tend to be collected in the same way other art is. How does your fair hope to market these mediums to collectors browsing others at the Armory Show?
Some of the most exciting artists working today are multidisciplinary in their approaches, engaging in photo-based practices or new technologies in some form. Photography and new media simply cannot be ignored in our understanding of the past, present and future of contemporary art. Anyone interested in contemporary practices can find something at PHOTOFAIRS New York to pique their interests and deepen their engagement with contemporary art overall.
That said, over the past several years, there has been a growing trend toward collecting both photography and digital art, particularly with up-and-coming generations of collectors. So there is already a devoted audience for the intersection of photo-based and digital practices that PHOTOFAIRS New York offers.
You’re the founder of Upstate Art Weekend. How has the upstate scene changed since the pandemic? What’s the interplay between the city and upstate at this moment?
Upstate has always been a beautiful haven for creatives, and that was amplified by the pandemic. What was also amplified during the pandemic was the fundamental need to reconnect with people and art again in the safe arena of nature, which is in abundance in the Hudson Valley and Catskills.
The interplay, for me, has always been the proximity and the exchange. When I lived in New York, I traveled upstate to escape and unwind. Now I live upstate and I come back to New York to refuel and engage with the ever-changing magic of the city. It is the best of both worlds, for which I’m extremely grateful.
SEE ALSO: Does NADA Foreland Indicate the Growth of an Upstate Art Market?
You’ve directed several fairs at this point. What’s the hardest part of the job?
I love this job! To be able to oversee and craft a convening of this scale is a challenge and a gift. You’re wearing lots of different hats and your hands are in every aspect of the fair, from programming to operations, partnerships, collector and museum relations, marketing—just about everything. It’s incredibly fun and stimulating working with so many different galleries, artists and partners.
Are there any booths or programs for PHOTOFAIRS’ initial edition that you’re particularly excited about?
I’m very excited for every aspect of this inaugural edition, from the solo presentations to our talks, projects and partner booths. It’s a joy to be able to work with old and new colleagues to provide a spotlight for them and their artists in New York City. This is also especially tricky to answer because I know how much care each gallery and partner has put into their presentations for our launch edition. I’m excited to see the dialogue created between the works in the fair, which you really need to experience in person. Come visit!
