 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.
January 2010
Snowstorm...
Satellite Image of the UK (Nasa's
Terra Satellite, Orbiting the Earth)
A quite stunning and rather
striking image taken by NASA's Terra satellite on January 7th 2010. A very clear
picture of how the UK is seeing winter weather only previously seen in the 70's
and 40's.
September 2009
Close encounters under the sea...
Marco Queral's photographs of whales (Hawaii, South Pacific)
These pictures show the
heart-stopping moment a talented diver was able to get eye-to-eye with a
colossal humpback whale. In an astonishing contrast the tiny human diver looks
miniscule compared to the 50ft female gentle giant of the seas.
July 2008
Circle 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.
Denevan discovered his talent for sand art more than ten years ago when he idly
picked up a stick and drew a 12ft long fish. Since then he has created more than
600 sand drawings and walked at least 1,800 miles. 'I just picked up a stick and
started to make shapes,' he said. 'Before long I had covered the beach in
animals, cars, volcanoes...you name it!' A stranger later pointed out
similarities between Denevan's work and Zen Buddhist gardens, suggesting the
artist use a rake as his primary tool.
Denevan, who has exhibited his work in galleries, also compares Britain's
complex crop circle shapes. 'They seem to be a bit more geometric than my
designs and I guess they are planned in advance. I just turn up on the sand and
start to create an image off the top of my head,' he said. On beaches his work
gets such a positive reaction that he has even found himself being told to leave
it alone by strangers who don't realise he's the artist. 'I once finished a
picture and was on my way home and realised that I had forgotten my jacket. When
I went back, people on a cliff above the picture shouted at me to get off it. I
had to shout back that it was me who had drawn it,' Denevan said. But the
temporary nature of the pieces is one of the attractions for him. 'I love to
complete a piece just as the tide comes in so that in that moment it is finished
and destroyed,' he added.
June 2008
A400M
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.
The initial contract, worth some 20 billion Euros was signed with a single
interface between Airbus Military and OCCAR, (Organisation Conjointe de
Coordination en matière d’Armement), the contractual body representing all seven
European customer nations). Versatility is the characteristic that best
describes the A400M, it being conceived with both tactical and strategic
capability. With a payload of up to 37 tonnes over ranges of up to 4700 nm, the
A400M is designed to carry all loads and vehicles in the European Staff
Requirement (ESR) inventory, serve as an aerial delivery platform and act as an
in-flight refueller for both fast jets and helicopters. The A400M is the first
truly new military transport aircraft of its category designed in over 30 years,
with twice the capacity and twice the payload of the current aircraft types that
it will replace. It is all set to become the new standard in military airlift.
May 2008
A400M
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 2008
A400M
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 2008
A400M
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 2008
A400M
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 2008
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2007
A400M
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 2006
A400M
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 2006
A400M
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 2006
A400M
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 2006
A400M
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 2006
A400M
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 2006
A400M
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 2006
A400M
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 2006
A400M
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 2006
CAILAN!
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 2006
PLEASURE 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 two professional Munich football clubs FC Bayern München and TSV 1860
München have played their home games at Allianz Arena since the start of the
2005/06 season. Both clubs had previously played their home games at the Munich
Olympic Stadium since 1972. Within a few months of the opening day, the
distinctive shape of the Allianz Arena had inspired the nickname Schlauchboot
("inflatable raft") by which it is now commonly known. The stadium is located at
the northern edge of Munich's borough of Schwabing on the Fröttmaning Heath and
the cost of the construction itself ran to € 286 million but financing costs
raised that figure to a total of € 340 million. In addition, the city and State
incurred approximately € 210 million for aerial development and infrastructure
improvements. The Stadium currently has a seating capacity of between
66,000-69,901 dependant upon the competition.
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 2006
ELEPHANT 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 2006
CATHERINE 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 2005
AQUAPLANE!
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 2005
JUST 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 2005
CASTLELIGHTS!
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 2005
KATRINA!
Hurricane Katrina heading for New Orleans, (New Orleans,
USA)
August 2005
NIGHTGLOW!
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 2005
HEY 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!
An estimated 3 BILLION PEOPLE watched LIVE 8 the greatest, greatest show on
Earth... and we were there too!
June 2005
THE RED PLANET!
Canyonlands National Park, (Utah, USA)
Canyon Seen from Mesa Arch
The rising sun lights up the red sandstone of Mesa Arch and the canyon walls of
Island in the Sky it overlooks. Photographed by © Scott T. Smith/CORBIS
To See more of Scott
T.Smith's Spectacular Photographs visit
CORBIS
May 2005
SUPER 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.
The A380 features an advanced version of the Airbus common two crew cockpit,
with pull-out keyboards for the pilots, extensive use of composite materials
such as GLARE (an aluminium/glass fibre composite), and four 302 to 374kN
(68,000 to 84,000lb) class Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance (General
Electric/Pratt & Whitney) GP7200 turbofans now under development. Several A380
models are planned: the basic aircraft is the 555 seat A380-800 (launch customer
Emirates). The 590 ton MTOW 10,410km (5620nm) A380-800F freighter will be able
to carry a 150 tonne payload and is due to enter service in 2008 (launch
customer FedEx). Potential future models will include the shortened, 480 seat
A380-700, and the stretched, 656 seat, A380-900. On receipt of the required 50th
launch order commitment, the Airbus A3XX was renamed A380 and officially
launched on December 19, 2000. In early 2001 the general configuration design
was frozen, and metal cutting for the first A380 component occurred on January
23, 2002, at Nantes in France. In 2002 more than 6000 people were working on
A380 development.
On January 18, 2005, the first Airbus A380 was officially revealed in a lavish
ceremony, attended by 5000 invited guests including the French, German, British
and Spanish president and prime ministers, representing the countries that
invested heavily in the 10-year, 10 billion+ ($13 billion+) aircraft program,
and the CEOs of the 14 A380 customers, who had placed firm orders for 149
aircraft by then. The out of sequence A380 designation was chosen as the "8"
represents the cross-section of the twin decks. The first flight is scheduled
for March 2005, and the entry into commercial service, with Singapore Airlines,
is scheduled for March 2006. Apart from the prime contractors in France,
Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain, components for the A380 airframe are also
manufactured by industrial partners in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland,
Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the
United States. A380 final assembly is taking place in Toulouse, France, with
interior fitment in Hamburg, Germany. Major A380 assemblies are transported to
Toulouse by ship, barge and road.
On July 24, 2000, Emirates became the first customer making a firm order
commitment, followed by Air France, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC),
Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic. Together these companies
completed the 50 orders needed to launch the programme. Later, the following
companies also ordered the A380: FedEx (the launch customer for the A380-800F
freighter), Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Etihad
Airways, Thai Airways and UPS.
April 2005
TRADITIONALLY FUTURISTIC!
The Airbrau Maypole, (Munich Airport, Germany)
March 2005
NOT SO PLAIN SAILING!
An Ocean, (Somewhere On Earth)
February 2004
BRIDGEING 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.
The first competition in 1829 was judged by Thomas Telford, the leading civil
engineer of the day. Telford rejected all the designs and submitted his own but
the decision to declare him the winner was unpopular and a second competition
was held in 1830. 24 year old Isambard Kingdom Brunel was eventually declared
the winner and appointed project engineer – his first major commission. The
foundation stone was laid in 1831 but the project was dogged with political and
financial difficulties and by 1843, with only the towers completed, the project
was abandoned.
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 2004
SCREAMING FROM THE
ROOFTOPS!
Jumbo Landing, (Old Airport, Hong Kong)
December 2004
GOING THROUGH AN ICY PATCH!
A Bus Route through Ice, (Somewhere On Earth)
November 2004
THE EARTH AT NIGHT!
The Earth by NASA, (Space, The Universe)
Credit: C. Mayhew & R.
Simmon (NASA/GSFC), NOAA/ NGDC, DMSP Digital Archive
Explanation: This is what the Earth looks like at night. Can you find your
favorite country or city? Surprisingly, city lights make this task quite
possible. Human-made lights highlight particularly developed or populated areas
of the Earth's surface, including the seaboards of Europe, the eastern United
States, and Japan. Many large cities are located near rivers or oceans so that
they can exchange goods cheaply by boat. Particularly dark areas include the
central parts of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The above image is
actually a composite of hundreds of pictures made by the orbiting DMSP
satellites.
This image is actually from 22 August 2004, but I have only recently been made
aware of it, so we have added it to November. The image has become an
email-attachment phenomenon! It has also generated many print requests, the
original NASA page is available
here,
and a high-resolution digital version of the image is available
here!.
October 2004
COAST 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 2004
TEMPLE 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 2004
SIGN 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 2004
OH 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 2004
THE 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 2004
A 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 2004
HOLDING 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 2004
ON 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 2004
I JUST PLANTED A FEW
BULBS...
Field of Light, (Bath, England)
Force field of power lines
lights up tubes
A FIELD of 1,300 fluorescent tubes light up the night sky - powered solely by
the force field from overhead power lines.
Richard Box
created the 60-metre display to show the hazards of living in the shadow of
high-voltage pylons. He said: "There's a crackling sound as well as light.
There's a certain smell too and your hair stands on end." Richard is artist in
residence at Bristol University where researchers claim power lines increase
risk of leukaemia, tumours, miscarriage and depression. The university's Prof
Dennis Henshaw said: "The installation uses the electromagnetic field to induce
a current in the tubes." The display is on a hill near the M4 a few miles from
Bath. Photograph taken by Andy Pears.
January 2004
WHEEL 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 2003
MIRROR 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 2003
CERTAINLY 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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