Photographer Takes Perfect Picture of Diving Kingfisher in Honour of his Grandfather

A photographer (Alan McFadyen) who used to watch kingfishers from his childhood with his grandfather spent 6 years and took 720,000 photos trying to get the perfect shot of the bird in memory of his late relative. The 46 years old photographer, taken by his grandfather Robert Murray to see the kingfisher nesting spot at the stunning lakeside location near Kirkcudbright, Scotland, somewhere 40 years ago. As the time passes, he grew up and he always remembering his past days, and then one day, he decided to start photography, and taking hundreds of photos per day trying to capture a kingfisher’s flawless dive. Hence, the kingfisher nest was flooded each year by the tidal water, and he dug a hole in the bank and filled it with clay to make a more sustainable nest for the birds.

He spent normally 100 days a year in his home location, and trying to capture kingfishers as they dived into the lake. He clocked over 4,200 hours and took around 720,000 photos before he got the perfect shot of the kingfisher doing a perfect dive into the water, without even a splash. There’re very few person in the world, who actually can take such type of photograph, because Kingfishers dive so quickly just like a bullets to taking a good image requires lot of luck and patience. The current photos are perfect dive, flawlessly straight, with no splash required be in the right place and get a very lucky shot but also for the bird itself to get it perfect.

Normally I take more than 600 shots in a session, and only one or two shots are good enough. I have taken thousands of thousands of photographs to get this one image. It makes me really glad how much work I have to get it. Many times I got disappointed not able to take perfect picture, but i never really stopped to think about how long it was taking along the way as I enjoyed doing it but now I look back on it I'm really proud of the picture and the work I put in. His grandfather has died in 1994 and I’m sure my grandfather would have loved it, I wish he could have seen it. I felt very proud as my grandfather brought me up as if he was my dad, so it really meant a lot. It was extraordinary how quick they flashed into the water with their brilliant blue colors and they didn't look real, they were like a bullet they were so quick. I have already started taking my eight-year-old son Leighton along with me and he spotted a kingfisher for the first time just last week so my dream is for him to take it up too.

Rare "Blue Dragon" Spotted on the Shores of Australia

Nature is so beautiful, and everyday rare creatures stun human beings with their unique characteristics & shape. But it all depending on your perceptions, see this strange little blue creature may enthuse either aww-worthy shrieks of exhilaration or a bit of uncomfortable shock, perhaps a combination of both. Therefore, you can meet the blue dragon, one of the strangest and most magnificent little-known animals in the world. The accurate name of this mythical-looking creature is “Glaucus atlanticus”, or blue sea slug, and though it is much smaller than its imaginary brethren of lore just an inch or two in lengths. Furthermore, it has a host of nasty tricks up its sleeve—er wing? Moreover, they spend their lives upside down, attached to the surface of the water and floating along at the mercy of the winds and ocean currents. This majestic create color is blue; they blend in with the water in order to camouflage themselves within their environment. And however petit, these baby dragons are also hazardous: they predate on poisonous cnidarians, such as the Portuguese man o’war. They store the stings cells composed from these cnidarians within their own tissues, and use them as a defense on anything that bothers them. Therefore, handling a slight blue dragon could result in a painful, and perhaps dangerous, sting. Though not often spotted by humans, one of these alien-like specimens was caught on film after washing ashore in Queensland, Australia.

800-Years Old Ancient Extinct Squash Discovered in India

An archaeological dig on the First Nation’s Menominee Reservation in Wisconsin yielded, and stun to see unexpected results when a clay vessel about the size of a tennis ball was discovered. Therefore, after carbon dating, it was exposed that the pot was more than 800 years old and enclosed a variety of seeds from a species of squash thought to be extinct. A group of Canadian students decided to test the viability of these ancient heirloom seeds that had been buried for many centuries. An ancient, extinct squash was grown!

The squash named “Gete-okosomin” which incompletely translates into “Big Old Squash” or “Really Cool Old Squash” the largest specimen grown from the seeds was an inspiring three feet and 18 pounds. Moreover this “cool” squash symbolizes much more than just a vegetable though it represents a time in history and a community where food was a right of citizenship. As a result, it serves as a reminder that the vegetables and fruits seen in the grocery store nowadays are just a fraction of the varieties that exist, and cataloguing seeds is a great way to ensure that these plant varieties continue to survive. However, many thanks to the ancient native people who put the seeds in the vessel, hundreds of years ago, this squash variety will not be lost to history. Thus, the effective cultivation of Gete-okosomin shows that heritage seeds can live over centuries and still remain a viable food source; we can learn a lesson in long-term food storage from Native American forefathers.

The Strange Poodle Moth

This fuzzy strange creature is equal parts lovable and mystifying, definitely making you question the line between reality and science fiction. Therefore, setting the internet on fire due to its bizarre resemblance to a Pokémon or demonic Furby, meet the enigmatic Venezuelan Poodle Moth. Zoologist Arthur Anker of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan first discovered in 2009, a mysterious photograph of the bizarre little guy swiftly made its rounds online. Hence due to its unique antenna and physical characteristics, the “Poodle Moth” is believed to be a new species of moth, belonging to the lepidopteran genus Artace. The bizarre, white creature with bulging, black eyes and strange, brown antennae is a seeming blend between a large moth and a fluffy white poodle, but it is a real creature and in fact rare enough that photographs only surface infrequently, and in doing so perplex the internet and puzzle the general public, a closer examination is essential before actual classification of the animal can happen. In the time being, the pictures that do emerge continue confuse the world at large, only adding to the mysterious mystery that surrounds this bizarre little moth creature. The fairy-like moth was associated to all kinds of other fuzzy moths, as well as to imaginary creatures and Pokemon characters.

Japanese Art Store Lines Walls with Every Pigment Color

The Japanese company Warehouse Terrada and built under the architectural design of Kengo Kuma with a sleek, beautiful modern design and thousands of colorful hues lining its walls, the new “art supply laboratory” recognized as Pigment is an art lover's dream come true. Therefore, owned by this exclusive shop, based in Tokyo, acts as both a hub for artists to collect supplies and collaborate, as well as a venue that offers the chance for traditional material manufacturers to transport high quality products that have been passed down for generations to their clients.

However, the pigment is a unique concept art store that tries to go above and beyond, from stocking 4,200 colors of pigments to posing a range of art workshops and an in-house gallery that displays young artists. The laboratory makes an amusing experience for hobby artists and experts alike. Moreover employers that are specialists of painting tools are available to pass on information and advice regarding features and instructions on, how and what is the best way to use the supplies. Hence, the building was constructed using organic curved surfaces reminiscent of bamboo blinds, with an open space concept that “improves your imagination just by visiting.” With a warm welcoming environment, and sufficient variety of stock to fuel any inventive activities, Pigment is an art store that attempts to be more.