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July 2008Circle in the Sand!
The largest artistic piece and canvas ever (Nevada, USA) Forget crop circles, this incredible sand drawing spans THREE MILES of desert... Spiralling off across the Nevada desert, these huge geometric shapes are an amazing three miles in diameter. Created using only common garden implements and wooden sticks, the stunning creation is the most ambitious of many sand sculptures made by 47-year-old Jim Denevan. Making three trips to Nevada's scorching Black Rock salt plain and taking a total of nine days, the Californian artist walked more than 100 miles scraping his designs onto the desert floor.
June 2008A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M Military Transporter (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military transporter. In a ceremony presided over by His Majesty Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, Airbus Military on the 26th June rolled out the first complete A400M military transport aircraft from the Final Assembly Line facility in Seville, Spain. Designed initially to a
recognised requirement for a new airlifter for European air forces, the A400M
incorporates the state-of-the-art materials and technology that are being
continuously perfected in today’s civil aircraft fleets. Features such as
electronic flight controls, carbon composite structures and an automated
handling system will bring new standards of operability and safety to military
aircrews. Launched under a single contract in 2003 with 180 orders for seven
European launch customers, the A400M represents the most ambitious military
procurement programme ever undertaken in Europe. The launch customer nations,
Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom were
subsequently joined by Malaysia and South Africa, which recognised the potential
of the new airlifter for their own requirements and brought the total number of
commitments to 192.
May 2008A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
April 2008A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
March 2008A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
February 2008A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
January 2008A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
December 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
November 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
October 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
September 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
August 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
July 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
June 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
May 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
April 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
March 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
February 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
January 2007A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
December 2006A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
November 2006A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
October 2006A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
September 2006A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
August 2006A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
July 2006A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
June 2006A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
May 2006A400M
The Roll Out of the First A400M (Seville, Spain) Well it's been nearly four years in the waiting, well for me anyhow, a lot longer for others. But the fruits of my labour have finally been realised with the roll out of the A400M versatile military airlifter.
April 2006CAILAN!
The Birth of Cailan Alexander Voyle (Tirschenreuth, Germany) Cailan Alexander Voyle was born at 22:47 in Tirschenreuth, Bayern, Germany weighing 3360g/7lb 4oz and at 52cm/20.5" in length. He was born with light blonde hair and blue eyes... but these are susceptible to change as we all know! He is the first son of Robert Cunningham Voyle and Korina Rosemarie Brenk. Unfortunately Korina had to have a Caesarean to assist in the birth, as the wee one didn't fancy making an appearance so early... so he was delivered via the sunroof. Cailan's will retain dual nationality of both German and British, so a bit of an Anglo BritDeutsch effort between Korina and myself. For those of you wondering where Cailan came from... and I mean the name; it is officially Gaelic, meaning Child, and we pronounce it "Kay-Lan".
March 2006PLEASURE DOME!
Allianz Arena (Munich, Germany) The Allianz Arena is a
football stadium is situated in the north of Munich. The Allianz group, a large
financial services provider, bought the rights to name the arena for 30 years,
but it will nevertheless be known as "FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich" during the
2006 World Cup, since FIFA does not allow sponsorship of stadium names. The
stadium is set to host six games during the tournament including the opening
ceremony, three further group games, a second round game and one of the
semi-finals. FC
Bayern München will also be required to cover up the stadium name during UEFA
Champions League games due to similar restrictions of the UEFA. During UEFA
games the stadium will be known as "Munich Arena". The arena facade is constructed of 2,874 ETFE-foil air panels that are kept inflated with dry air to a differential pressure of 0.035 hPa. The foil has a thickness of 0.2mm and each panel can be independently lit with white, red, or blue light. The intention is to light the panels at each game with the colours of the respective home team, or white if the home team is the German national football team. Roller blinds installed under the roof may be drawn during games to provide protection from the sun. For more pictures or information visit the Official Stadium Website, or for an unbiased insight there is always the Wikipedia Website, and of course you can see our very own photos at nooneels.com.
February 2006ELEPHANT MAN!
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (Bristol, England) On Saturday 25th February we went to see The Musical Box perform Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Tour from 1975 at The Colston Hall in Bristol, and here is a slide from the show to allow you to envisage such an exact reconstruction of the original event. It was so authentic that it actually felt like you had been transported back thirty years to the time of the original, all be it the year that I was actually born, so how would I know. Since 1993, The Musical Box
has been restaging Genesis concerts with Peter Gabriel: Foxtrot, Selling England
by the Pound and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. The inspiration and mandate of
The Musical Box is to recapture the magic of those concerts and give people the
impression of being at an original Genesis show. The reconstruction of this
ambitious project was based on hundreds of photos and slides of the original
concerts, videos, amateur films, articles from papers and magazines, as well as
information offered by numerous people who either worked on or attended the
Genesis shows between 1972 and 1975. All these sources allowed for the masks,
costumes, make-up, accessories, sets, lighting design, special effects,
choreography and musical presentation to be meticulously duplicated
January 2006CATHERINE WHEEL!
Observation Wheel, (Manchester, England) The main reason that this picture was chosen by myself for the January Picture of the Month, is that generally I was struggling to find anything better to be honest. You know how it is post Christmas and New Year, basically just a chilling out and relaxing period with minimal less travel and adventure, which also goes for February too really. Also I included it because the photograph was actually taken using my mobile phone, and has you can see it came out pretty good considering it was using the night effect option which normally requires some extremely steady handling to achieve anything, and with it being hand held by myself in a rather chilly Manchester I think it was somewhat of an achievement. The Manchester observation
wheel towering 60m (196ft) above the City is a 42-carriage wheel, similar to the
London Eye, was erected in Exchange Square for tourists and shoppers in the
run-up to Christmas 2005. Twenty-four lorries helped bring in the construction,
and it was been erected piece by piece over the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The attraction was in Paris for two years and features a "VIP gondola", designed
for President Jacques Chirac. The special carriage comes complete with leather
seats, carpets, a fridge and telephone. The 60m-high wheel, which is lit by
51,000 light bulbs, towers above the city's Urbis museum, offering views for
miles. A ride on the wheel, which is open to the public until February 2006,
lasts about 10 minutes.
December 2005AQUAPLANE!
Puget Sound, (Seattle, USA) Seattle, Washington is located in the far north western corner of the United States, if you don't consider Alaska. It is approximately 100 miles south of the Canadian border, nearly 3000 miles west of New York City and over 1000 miles north of Los Angeles, California. The city is situated on a series of low hills overlooking the deep-water harbour of Puget Sound. It is about 75 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. It is nearly surrounded by water with Puget Sound on the west, Lake Washington a few miles to the east and Lake Union connecting them across the north.
November 2005JUST FOUNTAIN!
Bellagio Hotel, (Las Vegas, USA) Well November's Picture of the Month was a pretty tough call. There were just so many fantastic pics to choose from, including the Seattle Skyline from the Harbour Cruise, The Skyline from the Seattle Spaceneedle, an aerial view of the Washington Lakes, and of course the many spectacular Hotels and Casinos in Vegas. But the winner was the fountain of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, the picture does not really do it justice, it has to be seen in real time to appreciate fully. To view a short video of the musical fountain click here! Using a dramatic combination of music, water and light, the Bellagio delivers spectacular performances with its majestic fountains. Every evening, time briefly seems to stop in front of the Bellagio. Running every 15 minutes or every half-hour, depending on the time of year, the animated fountains are impossible to simply walk past. Cleverly orchestrated to a variety of songs -- from "One, Singular Sensation," featured on Broadway, to "Fly Me To The Moon," written by Bart Howard and made famous by Frank Sinatra -- the fountains appear to come to life with every note. Spanning across the quarter-mile-long lake in front of the Bellagio, the free show generally lasts between five and 10 minutes. However, performances are hindered by inclement weather. The fountains were created by WET Design, a Southern California firm responsible for other well-known displays of water and light, including the LeapFrog Fountain at Disney World's EPCOT, the Sky Rockets at Chicago's Navy Pier and the Universal CityWalk Fountain. The $40 million Bellagio fountain show is equipped with 1,200 nozzles and 4,500 lights, making it the most expensive and ambitious water feature the company ever has done. The Bellagio fountains have been made famous through appearances on the silver screen. The fountains were most notably highlighted in the remake of "Ocean's Eleven," starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. To complement the fountain design, provided by WET Design's Claire Kahn, the Bellagio brought in outside professionals to develop the show, including composer/conductor Gerard Schurmann ("Lawrence of Arabia") and choreographer Kenny Ortega ("Dirty Dancing"). The range of movement across the lake is varied; some of the movement is continuous, responding to the smooth passages of music, while other water jets are rapidly pulsing, reaching heights as high as 240 feet. With a wide array of musical selections and choreography, you could easily sit in front of the fountains all night and never see the same performance twice. Even those in passing cars on the Strip feel compelled to pull to the side and take in the show.
October 2005CASTLELIGHTS!
Prague Castle / Hradcany, (Prague, Czech Republic) Prague Castle is the largest medieval castle complex in Europe and is a must for all visitors to Prague. Destructive wars and fires, along with differing political forces have combined to create a truly unique architectural complex. The Prague Castle complex, seat of Czech kings throughout the ages, includes the Gothic Saint Vitus Cathedral (the most recognised landmark in Prague), several palaces, a monastery, viewing towers, St. George's Basilica and the enchanting Golden Lane. Prague Castle was established in the 9th century. A Romanesque palace was erected during the 12th century, and in the 14th century, under the reign of Charles IV, it was rebuilt to Gothic style. A further reconstruction of the Royal Palace then took place under the Jagellons at the end of the 15th century. The builder, Benedikt Rejt, also added the now famous Vladislav Hall. As a result of a big fire in 1541, Prague Castle underwent further works during the 16th century. The Spanish Hall was added during the reign of Rudolf II and final alterations were made by Empress Maria Theresa, under the direction of the celebrated architect M. Pacassi. After World War I, the interior and gardens of Prague Castle were renovated by the architect J. Plecnik. Today, Prague Castle is the seat of the President of the Czech Republic, and serves as the historical and political centre of both city and state. The Changing of the Guard at the front gates takes place every hour. At noon the ceremony includes a fanfare.
September 2005KATRINA!
Hurricane Katrina heading for New Orleans, (New Orleans, USA)
August 2005NIGHTGLOW!
Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court, (Bristol, England) The world centre for
ballooning, Bristol has become home to Europe's largest hot air balloon
festival, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Founded 27 years ago, the
Bristol Balloon Fiesta has a fascinating history. It all began back in 1978 when
Don Cameron, owner of the World's largest balloon manufacturer, Cameron
Balloons, decided to create an event that would draw together balloonists from
around the world. With a total of 117 flights made from Ashton Court, the first
Bristol Balloon Fiesta proved to be a roaring success, paving the way for future
fiestas. From this small beginning, the Fiesta has grown year after year,
flourishing into what has become Europe's largest hot air balloon festival. This
year the Fiesta proved to be the best Bristol Balloon Fiesta yet, with over 100
balloons attending and rowds of over 500,000 people.
July 2005HEY JUDE!
Live 8 Finale, (Hyde Park London, England) It certainly isn't the most spectacular of photo's that we have ever added to the Picture of the Month section, but it is certainly one of the most Historic! and keeps the memory alive of one of the great days in ones life, and so for those two reasons it has to be included. THE DAY THAT ROCKED THE
WORLD!
June 2005THE RED PLANET!
Canyonlands National Park, (Utah, USA) Canyon Seen from Mesa Arch To See more of Scott
T.Smith's Spectacular Photographs visit
CORBIS
May 2005SUPER JUMBO!
Airbus A380, (The Alps, Europe) Having worked on the A380 Project during my time at AS&T in Consett - Co Durham, Programming the Manufacture of the Trailing Edge Wing Spars, I felt that this momentous occasion (photographed) had to be included within the Picture of the Month. The 555 seat, double deck
Airbus A380 is the most ambitious civil aircraft program yet. When it enters
service in March 2006, the A380 will be the world's largest airliner, easily
eclipsing Boeing's 747. Airbus first began studies on a very large 500
seat airliner in the early 1990s. The European manufacturer saw developing a
competitor and successor to the Boeing 747 as a strategic play to end Boeing's
dominance of the very large airliner market and round out Airbus' product
line-up. Airbus began engineering development work on such an aircraft, then
designated the A3XX, in June 1994. Airbus studied numerous design configurations
for the A3XX and gave serious consideration to a single deck aircraft which
would have seated 12 abreast and twin vertical tails. However Airbus settled
upon a twin deck configuration, largely because of the significantly lighter
structure required. Key design aims include the ability to use existing airport
infrastructure with little modifications to the airports, and direct operating
costs per seat 15-20% less than those for the 747-400. With 49% more floor space
and only 35% more seating than the previous largest aircraft, Airbus is ensuring
wider seats and aisles for more passenger comfort. Using the most advanced
technologies, the A380 is also designed to have 10-15% more range, lower fuel
burn and emissions, and less noise.
April 2005TRADITIONALLY FUTURISTIC!
The Airbrau Maypole, (Munich Airport, Germany)
March 2005NOT SO PLAIN SAILING!
An Ocean, (Somewhere On Earth)
February 2004BRIDGEING THE GAP!
The Brunel Clifton Suspension Bridge, (Bristol, England)
The Clifton Suspension
Bridge, spanning the beautiful Avon Gorge, is the symbol of the city of Bristol.
For almost 150 years this Grade I listed structure has attracted visitors from
all over the world. Its story began in 1754 with the dream of a Bristol wine
merchant who left a legacy to build a bridge over the Gorge. Brunel died prematurely
aged 53 yrs in 1859 but the Bridge was completed as his memorial and finally
opened in 1864. Designed in the early 19th century for light horse drawn traffic
it still meets the demands of 21st century commuter traffic with 11-12,000 motor
vehicles crossing it every day.
January 2004SCREAMING FROM THE ROOFTOPS!
Jumbo Landing, (Old Airport, Hong Kong)
December 2004GOING THROUGH AN ICY PATCH!
A Bus Route through Ice, (Somewhere On Earth)
November 2004THE EARTH AT NIGHT!
The Earth by NASA, (Space, The Universe)
Credit: C. Mayhew & R.
Simmon (NASA/GSFC), NOAA/ NGDC, DMSP Digital Archive
October 2004COAST TO COAST!
The Amalfi coastline, (Amalfi, Italy)
The coastline just south of Naples, known as the Amalfi Coast, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the world. It as an inherent natural beauty characterized by very steep, rocky hillsides falling sheer into the sea, and the local villages, untouched by modern architecture, which used to be dedicated to fishing, have retained all their centuries-old charm. Sightseers, if they really want to absent themselves from this beautiful area, can visit Naples, Pompei and Vesuvius. Ravello, just above Amalfi, has two enchanted villa gardens with views of the coastline. Capri and Ischia are islands nearby, both of extraordinary natural beauty.
September 2004TEMPLE OF NEPTUNE (Hera II)!
The 475bc Greek Temple of Neptune, (Paestum, Italy)
Poseidonia (modern-day Paestum) was founded by Greek colonists around 600 BC. A local tribe, the Lucanians, took over the site around 400 BC, and it became Roman in 273 BC. By the end of the Roman Empire, malaria had driven out the final inhabitants. The site has three major monuments - the Temple of Ceres, The Temple of Neptune (as seen) and the Basilica - and numerous other ruins. This temple (Neptune) was actually dedicated to Hera, and represents a fine example of the pure Doric order. In the foreground, the remains of the forum can be seen. The interior had two levels, with a sort of gallery running above the sides, reached by a staircase built into the front wall of the cella. The temple has six columns across the front and 14 along the sides.
August 2004SIGN FROM SADDAM!
An Explosion from a Terrorist Attack, (Oil Fields, Iraq)
This is a picture from an explosion at one of the oil fields in Southern Iraq, it is the result of an attack by one of the middle east terrorist organisations; although I do believe that the photograph has been doctored slightly, to assist the terrorist propaganda. I can't really see it being "A Sign from Saddam or Osama Bin Laden", but who knows!
July 2004OH SHHHAARK!
Surfboarding, (Somewhere On Earth)
The particular photographs included for the months of March through July, have been included because we felt that they are so spectacular. We do not know the exact origin of the photographs, other than that they are supposedly from a collection of photographs that were nominated for the photo of the year. We will endeavour to try to find some background on the photographs as soon as we can, but for now, just enjoy their splendour!
June 2004THE EYE OF A STORM!
Sailing the Seven Seas, (Somewhere On Earth)
The particular photographs included for the months of March through July, have been included because we felt that they are so spectacular. We do not know the exact origin of the photographs, other than that they are supposedly from a collection of photographs that were nominated for the photo of the year. We will endeavour to try to find some background on the photographs as soon as we can, but for now, just enjoy their splendour!
May 2004A BOLT FROM THE DARK!
Sunset, (Somewhere On Earth)
The particular photographs included for the months of March through July, have been included because we felt that they are so spectacular. We do not know the exact origin of the photographs, other than that they are supposedly from a collection of photographs that were nominated for the photo of the year. We will endeavour to try to find some background on the photographs as soon as we can, but for now, just enjoy their splendour!
April 2004HOLDING BACK THE FLAMES!
The Sun at Dusk, (Somewhere On Earth)
The particular photographs included for the months of March through July, have been included because we felt that they are so spectacular. We do not know the exact origin of the photographs, other than that they are supposedly from a collection of photographs that were nominated for the photo of the year. We will endeavour to try to find some background on the photographs as soon as we can, but for now, just enjoy their splendour!
March 2004ON CLOUD NINE...
Just A Single Cloud, (Somewhere On Earth)
The particular photographs included for the months of March through July, have been included because we felt that they are so spectacular. We do not know the exact origin of the photographs, other than that they are supposedly from a collection of photographs that were nominated for the photo of the year. We will endeavour to try to find some background on the photographs as soon as we can, but for now, just enjoy their splendour!
February 2004I JUST PLANTED A FEW BULBS...
Field of Light, (Bath, England)
Force field of power lines
lights up tubes
January 2004WHEEL OF FORTUNE!
The London Eye, New Year Firework Display, (London, England)
Today, the British Airways London Eye has become, quite literally, the way the world sees London. It is one of the most spectacular and popular attractions in the world, drawing visitors from far and wide. Its success is unquestionable, as is its popularity with tourists and Londoners alike. Yet it was conceived, designed and built against considerable odds. Of all the remarkable facts about the London Eye, perhaps the most astonishing is that it was ever built at all. At 135 m high it is the Worlds largest observation wheel, it has 32 capsules, holding a maximum of 25 persons at any one time, and so has a capacity of 1,600 passengers per hour. The wheel has a 135 metre diameter, weights 1900 tonnes, travels at 0.3 metres per second, take approximately 30 minutes for a full rotation, and on a clear day has a viewing range of 25 miles / 40 kilometres. The British Airways London Eye is a privately funded venture between British Airways, the Tussauds Group and London architects David Marks and Julia Barfield.
December 2003MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL?
Inside of The Dome at The Reichstag, (Berlin, Germany)
The Reichstag is the seat of the German Bundestag or federal government and, with its new dome, one of the Berlin's biggest crowd-draws in Berlin. Its colorful past reflects the turbulence of German history since the 19th century. The Reichstag was constructed from 1884–94 by Paul Wallot, since a representative building was needed to house the parliament of the newly-founded German state. The inscription "Dem Deutschen Volke" ("To the German people") was only added in 1916 during the First World War, because Wilhelm II. had previously been against it. On 9 November 1918, the politician Philipp Scheidemann announced the establishment of the Republic from one of its windows. Part of the Reichstag was destroyed in a fire on 27 November 1933: the exact cause has never been identified, but the fire was used by the Nazis to justify their persecution of political opponents. After the war, the devastated building was rebuilt in a simplified form from 1961–71 to plans by Paul Baumgarten, but it was not used for parliamentary functions. The dome, which had been blown up in 1945, was not rebuilt. Inside the edifice bordering the »Berlin wall there was an exhibition, "Questions on German History", which is now displayed in the »Deutscher Dom. After reunification, the German Federal Government decided to use the building as a parliament once again. From 1994–99 the Reichstag was reconstructed and extended by the Architect Sir Norman Forster, taking into consideration both the immense historical implications and its function as a modern working parliament, and adding an accessible dome. Before the renovation work began in 1994, the building became the stage for one of the most spectacular art events in Europe: it was wrapped by Christo and Jeanne Claude. The glass dome, which was at first the subject of great controversy, has now become one of the newest landmarks in the city. Since 1999 the Reichstag building has once again been the seat of the German Bundestag. The Reichstag will always be remembered for the lowest ebb in it's history, as it was in the bombproof basements of the Reichstag where Adolf Hitler spent his last hours of life, whilst Nazi Germany was imploding around him; before eventually killing himself there, as the Red Army were virtually on the doorstep. His aids then burned his body in the Reichstag's gardens to prevent the allies, in particular the Russians from parading the body of the Führer through the streets of Berlin.
November 2003CERTAINLY NOT... A BRIDGE TOO FAR!
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge Opening, (Newcastle, England)
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge was opened on the 17th September 2001, but officially opened by the Queen on the 7th May 2002, along with The Baltic and Metro Line extensions. The bridge was designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and engineers Gifford and Partners, it links the the borough's of Gateshead and Newcastle, across the river Tyne, and was designed for use by pedestrians and cyclists, at a cost of £22m. The most spectacular part of the bridge, is when it opens for the ships to sail beneath it along the Tyne; it opens like a giant eyelid. It is part of a massive redevelopment of the area, which also includes a number of other substantial projects, in the form of the £46m Baltic centre for contemporary arts, the £70m Sage musical concert centre, the Angel of the North (the largest sculpture in Britain), the Grainger Town renovation and the £97m extensions to the Newcastle / Gateshead / Sunderland Metro, as well as many others ongoing projects. For More information on these wonders, please visit the Gateshead Council Website.
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Copyright © 2009 No1Els |
ere is where we keep, what we believe to be our most interesting or
artistic photographs from a particular month. Nearly all photograph's are taken
somewhere on our travels. So I guess depending on where we have been in a
particular month, may decide how interested you are in that month's selection.
On very rare occasions we may include photograph's from other source's than
ourselves, these images are included due to us having a particular interest in
that subject, or us not having a particularly interesting month. We will endeavour to try to keep the subjects as varied as possible, and to
include photo's from as many different locations as we can. If you would like to make a comment on any photographs shown within this
section, please feel free to do so, via Email or Feedback.
