Papaver rhoeas

801_4358 [Papaver rhoeas]

Photographed on the Acropolis rocks in Athens on April 26, 2014

An amazing transformation

Pieris brassicae - larva

CCC1140 [Pieris brassicae - larva]

Walking on the rocks of the Acropolis, I nearly stepped on this “ugly”, some might say “repulsive” creature that was moving in front of me carefree and unaware of the danger she was exposed to. I would have bypassed her indifferently if I hadn’t noticed the yellow lines and black spots along her body that reminded me of the well-known and common butterfly called Pieris brasicae.

I took the picture out of habit, having no use of it in mind. Well … not until now!

Photographed on December 18, 2010

Pieris brassicae - adult

802_6977 [Pieris brassicae - adult]

A few weeks ago I was happy to have a “close encounter” in our garden with this butterfly. This airy, beautiful Pieris brassicae that once was “ugly” and “repulsive”.

What an amazing transformation!

What a miracle of life ... which, however, does not often get our full attention!

Photographed in Holargos on October 03, 2016

I came across a short well-written article on the Internet the other day describing a butterfly’s life cycle.
 If you' re interested, you can follow this link:

http://www.thebutterflysite.com/life-cycle.shtml

Crocus cartwrightianus

_8027561-NX [Crocus carwrightianus]

_8027537-NX [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Both photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 08, 2016

Nature’s necklace

802_7690 [Nature’s necklace]

The heavy rain that almost flooded the city a few days ago left behind difficult conditions for many but an opportunity for the blogger to experiment with capturing water drops that kept hanging from plant twigs.
 
Looking at the captured image on the screen, I subconsciously associated it with a necklace but I thought something was missing. So I took the liberty [“artistic license”?] to add a few stars here and there to provide a little bit of the missing glittering quality of a necklace.
 
I’m sharing the outcome with you.
 
Photographed in Holargos on November 27, 2016

Prospero autumnale

802_7208 [Prospero autumnale]

This is a very small autumn squill that often remains unnoticeable by the passer-by. Yet, its beautiful flowers - usually less than a cm wide that come in variations of pink, violet or blue, are rewarding to the viewer. The flower above was experimentally flooded with light from five flash sources in an attempt to pop up color and detail.

Photographed at Hollargos on October 21, 2016.jpg

Full moon rolling down the hill

802_6637 [Full moon rolling down the hill]

The approach of an August full moon event always "activates an alarm" that reminds me to start photographic preparations to shoot the "romantic disc". This year was no exception. When time came, I entered coordinates to my GPS device and headed for my pre-selected "vantage point". Alas! I ended up 4 km away because I had carelessly entered the wrong coordinates! The moon was about to rise and I had no time for corrective action! The rest of the story was nothing but a frustrating situation that ended when I saw the moon rise behind the hill. Fortunately, I had already set up the camera on the tripod - in spite of the fact that I was at the wrong place - and had decided to wait and see where the moon would rise.

Outcome: two shots in my bag. [See the other one here.]
It seems that the saying "Every cloud has a silver lining" is true!

Photographed at Sounio on August 18, 2016

Crocus laevigatus

_8027485 [Crocus laevigatus]

_8027488 [Crocus laevigatus

This crocus is endemic to Greece and comes in two variations, lilac or white.
 
Both photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 05, 2016

Spiranthes spiralis

802_7153 [Spiranthes spiralis]

A close up

802_7180 [Spiranthes spiralis]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 13, 2016

Crocus pallasii

_8027385-NX [Crocus pallasii]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 01, 2016

Wired and face-to-face communication

[Wired and face-to-face communication]

A snapshot scanned from an analog photograph.

Taken in New York in August 1981

A dragonfly “portrait”

BBB2654 [A dragonfly "portrait"]

Photographed at Schinias on October 29, 2009

Burj Al Arab

IMG_6084 [Burj Al Arab]

 
 A hotel in Dubai that according to Wikipedia "it is considered the third tallest building in the world" and according to its owners it is “repeatedly voted the world’s most luxurious hotel”.

Sorry, no reservations possible through our blog. Please visit their own website. Thank you.

_MG_5879 [Burj Al Arab]

_MG_5885 [Burj Al Arab]

 
Photographed in Dubai on November 20 and 23, 2007

Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum

802_7108 [Biarum tenuifolium ssp.abbreviatum]

Photographed on Philopappou Hill in Athens on October 10, 2016

_8017756 HDR5 [Biarum tenuifolium ssp.abbreviatum

Photographed on Philopappou in Athens on October 03, 2014

Shooting smoke for fun!

802_7070 [smoke]

802_7087 [Smoke]

Looking at the second picture, I think I can see a dancing ghost having a man’s head and a woman’s delicate right arm raised. On his/her left I’m almost sure I can see a dolphin.
 
Are they actually there or am I hallucinating?!?!? [No drugs involved! I swear!!!]

Both photographed in Holargos on October 06, 2016

The Academy of Athens: A slide show

[The Academy of Athens]

A slide show featuring the Academy of Athens: a marble neoclassical building (1885) that is considered one of the major landmarks of the city and - according to international experts - one of the most exquisite neoclassical buildings worldwide.

Duration 8' 39"

You are recommended to watch it in full screen.

Photographs taken in 2015-2016

Sternbergia lutea

_8021972 [Sternbergia lutea]

 
Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 6, 2016

Full moon over The Temple of Poseidon

802_6659 F-2 [Full moon over the Temple of Poseidon]

 Photographed at Sounio on August 18, 2016

Colchicum sfikasianum

802_6932 [Colchicum sfikasianum]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on September 27, 2016

 

Allium scorodoprasum

801_5034 [Allium scorodoprasum]

Photographed at Schinias on May 10, 2014

Cyclamen graecum

802_6902 [Cyclamen graecum]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on September 27, 2016

The University of Athens: The historic building

IMG_0601 [The University of Athens]

  The pictured historic building of the University of Athens is situated in the heart of the city. It was designed in the 19th-century by the Danish architect Hans Christian Hansen (1803-1883) as part of the so-called “Athenian trilogy” of neoclassical buildings consisting of the University of Athens in the middle, the National Library on the left and The Academy on the right. Once, it housed all University services but today its use is restricted to housing the Rectorate, the Senate and the Great Hall of Ceremonies.
 
Photographed in Athens on April 10, 2016
 
Please click on the picture for a better view.

Orchis anthropophora

802_3603 [Orchis anthropophora]

Orchis italica

_8012917 [Orchis italica]

A hybrid of anthropophora and italica

802_3597 [hybrid: anthropophora + italica]

 The three flowers were only a few meters away one from the other; a fact that facilitated pollination.  

They were photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 12, 2016

Ardea cinerea

DDD_4303 NX [Ardea cinerea]

Photographed at Schinias on March 15, 2014 

Lotus corniculatus

802_6731 [Lotus corniculatus]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on September 05, 2016

“The runner”

801_5410A [The Runner]

This controversial piece of art was made exclusively with sheets of glass arranged horizontally one on top of the other on a well-hidden metal skeleton. It was created by the Greek artist Costas Varotsos in 1988.
Originally, it was placed on Omonia square where it remained until 2000 when metro works began. Then, it was moved - reportedly for safety reasons - to the square next to the Hilton Hotel where it can be seen until today.

The Runner in the picture above seems to be about to cross a “Finish line”.

Photographed in Athens on May 31, 2014

Colchicum bivonae

802_6734 [Colchicum bivonae]

802_6751 [Colchicum bivonae]

Both photographed on Mt. Parnitha on September 05, 2016

Ending the day on the golden sea

DSCN0907 [Ending the day on the golden sea]

Photographed in Halkidiki on July 08, 2006

For a similar picture taken on the same spot on the same day please click here.

Paronychia argentea

IMG_5936 [Paronychia argentea]

Photographed at Schinias on May 10, 2016

Fritillaria conica

8012250 [Fritillaria conica]

Photographed in the Botanical Garden in Athens on February 15, 2014

Graffiti on the rocks

DSCN1161 [Graffiti on the rocks]

Photographed in Halkidiki on July 15, 2006

Suillus collinitus

DSCN2894 [Suillus collinitus]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on October 18, 2008

 

Delphinium peregrinum

801_5663 [Delphinium peregrinum]

Photographed in Vravrona on June 28, 2014

Papilio alexanor

802_3733 [Papilio alexanor]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 15, 2016

Ophrys argolica

802_3586 [Ophrys argolica]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 12, 2016

Cytinus hypocistis ssp. clusii

802_3549 HF [Cytinus hypocistis ssp. clusii]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 11, 2016

Anacamptis coriophora ssp. fragrans

802_3644 [Anacamptis coriophora ssp. fragrans]

Photographed in Dilesi on April 14, 2016

Sedum litoreum

IMG_0150 [Sedum litoreum]

Photographed in Kea on April 30, 2011

Psiritsa

AAA7961 [Psiritsa -moth]

Psiritsa - a friend's cat – is jumping up to catch a moth
that has already managed to escape to the left pane of the door.

You can see Psiritsa's portrait here.

Photographed in Alepohori on April 12, 2009

Neotinea maculata

802_3159 [Neotinea maculata]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on March 13, 2016

Turdus merula

300_5599-3 [Turdus merula]

Photographed in Holargos on March 27, 2016