Comet NEOWISE shot on July 26, 2020 from Burney, California.
In this celestial photograph titled "Comet NEOWISE," the universe opens up a small window into its mysterious and vast expanse. Dominating the scene, the comet streaks across the sky with a glowing nucleus and a diaphanous tail that fans out gracefully, leaving behind a trail of cosmic dust. The backdrop is a deep, inky blue-black canvas scattered with twinkling stars, each a distant sun offering a subtle twinkle that suggests infinite space beyond. The comet’s brilliance pierces this tranquil darkness, capturing the viewer’s eye and imagination as it propels silently and majestically through the heavens.
This photograph embraces a minimalistic style, utilizing wide-open space to emphasize the comet against the starry backdrop—a bold yet elegantly simple composition choice. The rule of thirds plays a crucial role here, placing the comet slightly off-center, which adds dynamic tension and interest to the image. The tail’s diagonal trajectory also guides the viewer’s gaze across the frame, providing a pathway through the night sky. The photograph’s strength lies in its clarity and the compelling contrast between the comet's luminescence and the surrounding void. However, one might critique the image for needing slightly more visual elements to achieve balance across the frame, as the vast dark space could feel overwhelming or underutilized to some viewers. Overall, this photograph successfully captures a fleeting moment of cosmic wonder with a sense of both intimacy and grandeur.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Comet NEOWISE #photo #comet #neowise Photos of Comet NEOWISE over Burney, California. )
A storm builds over Lassen Peak. Filmed from Lake Helen in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Storm builds over Lassen Peak (Timelapse) #timelapse #lassen #storm #video Time lapse of a storm building around Lassen Peak, shot from Lake Helen. )
The screen shot above is from Google Fit. Which icon is active? I can't tell any more. Is it the blue one or the underlined one which is a much stronger cue?
Of course none of the icons are underlined. This is a bottom navigation bar on top of the Android navigation bar on Android 10 with gesture navigation enabled. My brain knows this but my finger still tries to click on Home. Journal just looks so much more active I can't help it. This friction is also in Google Photos and Google Maps and presumably Google everything before too long.
Maybe the Google app developers don't have access to recent Pixels, or maybe the Material Design team all have iPhones?
(Previously: Material Design 3)
(Published to the Fediverse as: Did anyone tell Material Design about Gesture Navigation? #etc #google #design I can no longer tell which tab of most Google Android apps is active due to confusion between gesture navigation and the bottom navigation bars. )
Photos of a Humpback Whale off the California coast at Fort Funston in San Francisco.
The ocean stretches endlessly in a serene expanse of deep blue, punctuated by flecks of light glinting off the gentle waves. In the foreground, the majestic back of a humpback whale breaches the surface, its form a dark silhouette against the sparkling sea. Nearby, a small boat bobs gently, its white hull stark against the ocean's hues, as if floating in a realm of dreams. Seabirds pepper the sky, their wings spread wide as they glide effortlessly, adding a touch of life to the expansive scene. The ambience is one of peaceful coexistence, where nature and humankind share a tranquil moment in the vastness of the ocean.
The photograph employs a loose composition, relying on the rule of thirds with the whale and the boat positioned on opposite sides, creating a balance across the image. The use of natural lighting is effective, as the sunlight delicately highlights the sea's texture, casting a shimmer that enhances the scene's peacefulness. However, the image could benefit from a crisper focus on the whale to draw the viewer’s attention more sharply to the intended subject. The distant perspective adds a sense of scale, but the lack of sharpness detracts slightly from the immediacy of the moment. Overall, the image effectively captures a serene nautical tableau, though a stronger emphasis on the whale might heighten its impact.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Humpback Whale at Fort Funston #photo #whales #humpback #fortfunston Humpback Whale photos at Fort Funston (Golden Gate National Recreation Area) in San Francisco, California. )
A Northern Pacific rattlesnake at Fort Baker (Marin County, California)
The photograph titled "Northern Pacific Rattlesnake" captures the subtle yet powerful presence of this reptile as it basks in the sun. The snake's body forms a graceful curve across the frame, its scales shimmering in hues of earth-toned browns and tans that blend almost seamlessly with the rocky and leaf-strewn terrain around it. Its angular head is poised, with a forked tongue extending outward, adding a sense of quiet alertness. The setting is arid and textured, with dried pine needles scattered about, enhancing the natural camouflage of the serpent. The lighting is gentle yet precise, casting soft shadows that accentuate the rattlesnake's muscular form and the intricate patterns upon its skin.
The composition of this photograph is thoughtfully executed, with the snake's sinuous form leading the eye through the image in an organic S-curve, a classical compositional technique that creates harmony and flow. The image is well-balanced; the textured background contrasts nicely with the smoother, glossy scales of the snake, making it stand out yet remain contextually integrated. The choice of natural lighting is commendable, bringing out the natural colors and details without overly harsh contrasts. However, while the photograph does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the rattlesnake's habitat, a slight drawback could be the lack of a clear focal point aside from the snake itself; perhaps a tighter focus on the head or eyes might add more intensity. Nonetheless, the photograph succeeds in evoking a sense of admiration for the reptile's beauty and adaptation.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake #photo #snake Photo of a Northern Pacific rattlesnake at Fort Baker, Marin County, California. )
Starting to leave San Francisco. Photo is of Bird Island in the Marin Headlands. 39.1 unique miles.
Hike starts at: 37.741862, -122.471579. View in Google Earth.
(Hike Map)
(Published to the Fediverse as: Coronavirus Hikes: June 2020 #hike #coronavirus #map Lockdown hikes around San Francisco for June 2020. )
U.S. Used Missile With Long Blades to Kill Qaeda Leader in Syria
As previously reported India had rocket propelled swords in the late 18th century!
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Coronavirus by country and US state/county - this post updates two videos daily that show increases in cases and deaths by day. Also more very local hikes.
I can't tell if Microsoft wants me to use Edge.
More ISS.
Previously:
This post visualizes global and US county level coronavirus data from Johns Hopkins University. Four videos show both cumulative and week on week progression (comparing seven day moving averages) of the disease together with four images that show the most recent snapshot. It used to be updated weekly, this stopped August 5, 2023.
Cases and deaths are shown simultaneously using blue for cases and red for deaths. Where both are high a region will be a shade of purple. Regions with no data are dark gray.
The week on week incremental visualization is useful to see the history and current state of the spread of coronavirus. Each region is shaded based on the highest number of daily cases and deaths for that region and is relative to population. For example if the highest number of deaths reported on any day in San Francisco county is seven, then any day that has seven deaths will be the brightest shade of red. This shows where COVID-19 is relatively bad over time.
The cumulative visualization is shaded relative to the highest total death and case count for any region, relative to population.
As the location and date of the peak in week on week and cumulative cases and deaths change over time the videos will be different each time you watch. Bookmark this post and check back for weekly updates.
(This is the fifth version of this post as I have changed the data source and methodology several times. I usually preserve the previous version of any post but the changes are large enough that in this case I have removed them).
(Published to the Fediverse as: Visualizing Coronavirus Cases and Deaths by Country and US County #etc #coronavirus #shapefile #h5v Videos showing the spread of confirmed COVID-19 cases and death by country and US county/state per capita from 2020 to 2023. )
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