Amazing Pictures

[Radbird]

[mikechamp]

Cue the slow jazz...

Robber flies win insect photo competition

A photograph of a mating pair of golden-tabbed robber flies, entitled It Takes Two by Pete Burford from Shrewsbury, has been crowned overall winner of the Royal Entomological Society Insect Week competition.

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-65876963

[mikechamp]

There were some cool pictures in this article.

Eid al-Adha around the world: In pictures

People around the world are observing Eid al-Adha, one of the most important Islamic festivals in the Muslim calendar.

Meaning the "feast of the sacrifice", Eid al-Adha commemorates the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son on God's orders and is marked by special prayers and feasts. This year, it begins on 28 June. The festival coincides with the end of the Hajj - the annual Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

Below is a selection of images showing people marking the festival around the world.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66041087

[Radbird]

[Joe Shlabotnik]

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[mikechamp]

Go take a hike... for days:

In Pictures: Five of the world's most remarkable treks

From walks through history to adventures in lost worlds, a new book – with spectacular imagery – showcases more than 50 of the world's best hiking routes. Here are five favourites.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2023 ... able-treks

[mikechamp]

Stunning photos:

Ansel Adams: Eight of the most iconic photos of the American West

Ansel Adams' images of national parks and oil derricks from the 30s and 40s are a powerful reminder of the beauty and fragility of the US's natural landscapes, writes Cath Pound.

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/202 ... rican-west

[mikechamp]

Is this a once-in-a-lifetime photo? You be the judge:

Cornwall photographer catches 'once in a lifetime' kestrel picture

Andy Maher, from Hayle, told BBC Radio Cornwall he was out taking photos of birds in flight when he saw the kestrel hovering above him. He said the bird then dived towards him and swooped away at the last second. Mr Maher took a burst of photographs of the action and when he looked at them later he was "quite blown away by what I'd taken".

He said the photograph was a "very rare" shot and he was lucky the camera had been on the right settings. Mr Maher said: "You can get a bird in flight which isn't always difficult... but to get an action shot, it can be very rare, particularly a shot like that where a bird is coming right at you. It's just a once in a lifetime image."

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-66332656

[SHOW]

[mikechamp]

I've got a couple picture articles to share with you all. Here is the first: the annual Bird Photographer of the Year awards. Make sure to scroll through the entire article, as there are some truly amazing pictures in there:

Peregrine Falcon image wins bird photo award

Photographer Jack Zhi's dramatic picture of a female peregrine falcon protecting her young has won this year's Bird Photographer of the Year award. The picture was taken in California and beat more than 20,000 entries to claim the prize.

"For four years, I attempted to capture the rare sight of the female falcon attacking large brown pelicans with incredible speed and agility," he said. "I love the eyes of the pelican in this image - surprised and scared. The action was fast, and over in the blink of an eye. But I'll remember that moment forever."

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-66706149

[mikechamp]

From last week's lunar event:

Blue supermoon: World gazes at rare lunar phenomenon

Sky gazers around the world have been treated to a blue supermoon, which made a spectacular appearance for the first time since 2009.

A blue Moon occurs when the pattern of days in a year means there are 13 full Moons instead of the usual 12. This blue Moon is also a supermoon - when the Earth's only natural satellite appears brighter than usual because it is at its closest point in its orbit around our planet.

But despite its name, the lunar phenomenon has nothing to do with colour - it gets its name because it does not fall in the usual scheme of named Moons.

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-66662857