The 30 Most Incredible Photographs of Volcanic Eruptions Puyehue Volcano, Chile – Photograph by CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES The recent photographs from the volcanic eruption in Chile stirred up memories from last year’s disruptive volcano in Iceland as well as the incredible undersea volcano in Tonga the year prior. When volcanoes erupt, it’s a startling reminder to the awesome and terrifying power of Nature. From enormous plumes of ash to spewing lava and the menacing look of volcanic lightning, eruptions are a nature photographer’s dream. Here is a collection of the 30 most incredible photographs of volcanic eruptions both past and present. Enjoy! 2. Photograph by NASA 3. Photograph by CARLOS GUTIERREZ 4. Photograph by DANA STEPHENSON/GETTY IMAGES 5. Photograph by OLIVER SPALT A volcano is an opening, or rupture, in a planet’s surface or crust, which allows hot magma, volcanic ash and gases to escape from below the surface. Volcanoes are generally found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging. 6. Photograph by NASA 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
15 of the Most Beautiful Crater Lakes in the World A crater lake is a lake that forms in a volcanic crater or caldera, such as a maar; less commonly and with lower association to the term a lake may form in an impact crater caused by a meteorite, or in an artificial explosion caused by humans. Sometimes lakes which form inside calderas are called caldera lakes, but often this distinction is not made. Crater lakes covering active (fumarolic) volcanic vents are sometimes known as volcanic lakes, and the water within them is often acidic, saturated with volcanic gases, and cloudy with a strong greenish color. Crater lakes form as precipitation within the rim fills the created depression. Below you will find a gallery of some of the most beautiful looking crater lakes in the world. 1. A well-known crater lake, which bears the same name as the geological feature, is Crater Lake in Oregon, USA. 2. Quilotoa is a water-filled caldera and the most western volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. 13. 14. 15.
The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus-Bertrand [25 pics] The Amazon River, Brazil | Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND Born in Paris, France on March 13, 1946, Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a world-renowned photographer specializing in aerial photography. He didn’t fully realize his talents as a photographer until he was older (early thirties), spending three years in the late 70s, in Kenya living with the Massai tribe and studying the behaviour of a pride of lions. He thus discovered a new passion for photography and the beauty of landscapes when observed from above in hot air balloons. Below you will find a small sample of his incredible work, along with a short biography of Yann, and his thoughts on various concepts and ideas, enjoy! 2. Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND 3. 4. YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND Continued… Upon his return to France, he published in 1981 his first book Lions, first release of a series of 80 books. 5. 6. 7. YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND continued… 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. “For a long time, I was afraid to use that word. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
25 Alpacas with the Most Amazing Hair Ever May 24, 2012 Alpacas are a domesticated species of South American camelid, bearing a striking resemblance to llamas only much smaller. They have been bred specifically for their ‘fiber’ which is used for similar knitted and woven products that wool is used for. This wonderful ‘fiber’ comes in more than 52 natural colors as classified in Peru, 12 as classified in Australia and 16 as classified in the United States. [Source] What was I talking about again? If you enjoyed this post, the Sifter highly recommends:
25 Mind-Blowing Aerial Photographs Around the World Rano Kau volcano in Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile – Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND For me, the allure of aerial photography is the unique perspective it gives. The world feels so different when viewed from above. It always gives me a newfound appreciation for this pale blue dot we call home. In my opinion, there is no better aerial photographer than Yann Arthus Bertrand. 2. Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND 3. 4. 5. Born in Paris, France on March 13, 1946, Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a world-renowned photographer specializing in aerial photography. Upon his return to France, he published in 1981 his first book Lions, first release of a series of 80 books. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND continued… In the 90s, under the patronage of UNESCO, Yann embarked upon his most ambitious project: creating an image bank of the Earth seen from above. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. “For a long time, I was afraid to use that word. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
When Rivers Collide: 10 Incredible Confluences Around the World In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. Known also as a conflux, it refers either to the point where a tributary joins a larger river, called the main stem, or where two streams meet to become the source of a river of a new name, such as the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania creating the Ohio River. The term is also used to describe the meeting of tidal or other non-riverine bodies of water, such as two canals or a canal and a lake. Below is a collection of 10 incredible confluences around the world. The confluences below were selected for their dramatic visual contrast. 1. In this incredible photograph we see the confluence of the Rhone and Arve rivers in Geneva, Switzerland. 2. The Ilz is a relatively small mountain stream and has a blue-ish color while the Inn is a fairly large river flowing in from Salzburg, Austria at the top. 3. 4. Jialing River on the right stretches 119 kilometers. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
The 35 Cutest Baby Elephants You Will See Today May 31, 2012 I was having a mediocre day until a photo of a baby elephant immediately lifted my spirits (#2 below, saw it on Reddit). I thought, if one simple baby elephant picture could spontaneously lift my spirits, a whole gallery may very well increase the happiness index the world over (quite facetious, yes). Sure when they grow up they become the largest land animal in the world, but as babies? They are all kinds of adorable. Check out the gallery below if you’re looking for something to put a smile on your face :) If you enjoyed this post, the Sifter highly recommends: TwistedSifter - The Best of the visual Web, sifted, sorted and summarized
The Thousand Islands. These are a chain of islands that straddle the U.S. - Canada stretching for about 50 miles downstream from Kingston, Ontario. In fact, there are1,865 in all, range in size from over 40 square miles to smaller islands occupied by a single residence. The largest island in the group, Wolfe Island, is located entirely in Ontario. Images have been scaled down, click on them to show original size. (Image credit: Tibridge). (Image credit: Rockportcruises). (Image credit: Johnsquier). (Image credit: Garlockrealty). (Image: Credit). In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century many distinguished visitors made the region widely known as a summer resort. Source: 1, 2. Other Posts:Road Train.
Interesting Vintage Advertisements. Here are some of the advertisements from the gone by era that look so simple & down to earth without much of what we find these days. Perhaps that's what makes them distinguished & 'vintage advertisements'. On second thought some aren't really cool at all & rather they are ….. Bell telephone (1939) advertisement. Chevrolet trucks' advertisement. Coca Cola (Thirst stops here 1939) advertisement. Ad of Gillette Razor. Coca Cola (Christmas 1940) advertisement. Lysol advertisement. Coca Cola (Fountain 1939) advertisement. Chrysler's advertisement. Ivory Soap advertisement. General Electric Lamps advertisement. General Electric refrigerator advertisement. Gerber's baby food advertisement. Source: 1, 2. Other Posts:Bug Art.Interesting Signs.Bubble Gum Walls.
Marilyn Monroe: Rare Early Photos of a Hollywood Icon in 1949 “I’m sending only brief captions,” a LIFE magazine correspondent wrote to his editors in February 1949, in notes accompanying photographs of a little-known actress with a few small roles in mediocre films under her belt. “For one thing, time is of the essence in getting the pictures to a plane. For another, the processes shot are not terribly complicated, showing as they do how Marilyn trains herself for hoped-for movie stardom by consulting specialists in singing, dancing and drama and how she is worked on by them in the effort to produce a wrapped-up package of talent to back up her photogenic sex appeal.” How Marilyn trains herself for hoped-for movie stardom. That casual mention of Marilyn Monroe, made in the context of a struggling young actress, is hard to reconcile with the image most movie fans harbor of arguably the single most famous film star of the 20th century. Surely, we tell ourselves, she was always a star. Actually, no. [Buy the LIFE book, Remembering Marilyn.]
Marilyn Monroe: Rare Early Photos of a Hollywood Icon in 1949 “I’m sending only brief captions,” a LIFE magazine correspondent wrote to his editors in February 1949, in notes accompanying photographs of a little-known actress with a few small roles in mediocre films under her belt. “For one thing, time is of the essence in getting the pictures to a plane. For another, the processes shot are not terribly complicated, showing as they do how Marilyn trains herself for hoped-for movie stardom by consulting specialists in singing, dancing and drama and how she is worked on by them in the effort to produce a wrapped-up package of talent to back up her photogenic sex appeal.” How Marilyn trains herself for hoped-for movie stardom. Surely, we tell ourselves, she was always a star. Actually, no. And yet, Eyerman clearly saw enough of something, a special glimmer, in the fresh-faced beauty to chronicle the training that, as a practitioner of a craft, she evidently knew she needed. [Buy the LIFE book, Remembering Marilyn.]