Nordstahl @Nordstahl@qoto.org

The true danger of #drag shows.

'Critically Endangered'
Brown Spider Monkeys have lost 98% of their natural habitat because of logging, land clearance, agriculture and cattle ranches. Around 3000 individuals remain in the wild. An illustration for the @wildlifewednesdaychallenge to highlight the plight of endangered species through art
#MastoArt #ArtGallery #Monkey #illustration #endangered #drawing #art #WildlifeWednesday

I've been busying myself a bit with #ethics of #StreetPhotography lately, in particular concerning people being recognisably featured in them.
I usually try to avoid catching people in my shots or try to picture them in a way that they're not recognisable. On the other hand, when I took this picture here (yes I know it's not the best edit, additionally I still had the CPL mounted which could've very well ruined the whole shot), I tasted blood.
I was lucky it was such an (objectively) easy and rewarding encounter. I saw him, decided the scene's really just worth it to battle my social anxieties and ask that man if it was okay to take a picture of him. He happily agreed, just because I was one of a handful out of maybe a hundred or more who ever cared to actually ask. My adrenaline levels were through the roof and I literally was on the brink of crying after that - partly out of being proud I decided to overcome my anxieties, partly out of relief for righteously being able to leave the situation again without it being awkward, partly out of self-hate for being so fucked up I have issues with such trivial things as asking a stranger a truly simple thing, partly about the story told by that, how terrible we as a society treat homeless people that I get so much gratitude from him simply by asking permission, thus showing at least a minimal set of respect from one human being to another.

To get to the point, I came to realise ethics - at least as far as street and urban photography is concerned - aren't so much a matter of law or legality, but primarily a matter of decency and mindset. And it's something I need to sort with myself before I can go out and portray people like in that shot of mine. I have to become clear on things like where I stand in relation to my subject, if I'm an external "documenter", if I see myself as "same kin" and if that's actually true or I'm committing cultural appropriation, if it's okay to buy myself out of responsibility by giving the guy a tenner just because I can.
Those are questions no one can answer for anybody but themselves.

Unfortunately I HAVE to work out my own answers to these questions, because there's such a rich treasure of emotions buried in that box - if not in the pictures then for myself while taking them.
But no matter how good of a street portrait I might take in the future, this will always be special and probably my richest treasure because of all the emotions it triggered with me and how it forces me to define how I see myself while taking pictures.

#photography #UrbanPhotography #Fotografie #StraßenFotografie #UrbaneFotografie #SocialAnxiety

EOS 70D, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM, CPL, f/6.3, ISO100, 1/25

Give mature trees same protection as heritage buildings, say campaigners https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/16/protect-old-trees-destruction-plymouth-woodland-trust

Destruction of more than 100 trees in Plymouth highlights weakness of protections, says Woodland Trust

As of 6:00 AM on March 17th, 2023, the Russian Federation has not abandoned its plans to occupy Ukraine and continues to launch offensive operations, regardless of the losses incurred. The main focus of the enemy is on the Liman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Maryinka and Shakhtarsk directions, with more than 70 attacks being made on these areas in the past day. In the Kupyansk and Lyman sectors, the enemy has attempted to break through the defense of our troops in the areas of Hryanikivka, Kreminna, Kuzmine, Verkhnekamianske and Spirne. In the Bakhmut sector, the enemy has continued to try to storm the town of Bakhmut, with unsuccessful offensive actions being repelled in the areas of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske and Hryhorivka. On the Avdiivka, Maryinka and Shakhtarsk directions, the enemy has conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the areas of Kamyanka, Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, Nevelske and Maryinka.

@ChrisMayLA6 And they think we can't see them. Or rather, they don't care whether we know or not; they will continue to strip the NHS bare and profit from disaster.

On a smaller scale (in a business, perhaps) such destructive actions would have led to dismissal and prosecution. But when it's an attack on an entire country, by those in charge, who will call them to account?

Starting to cull my photos, already missing this... #santoantao #caboverde

An afternoons walk out at Summer Leys after work.

Had lost most of the light by the time I arrived but managed a few nice/interesting images like this one of a Great Egret in flight with its mouth open. [Bonus shoveler in the right hand corner]

#birds #birding #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #wildlife #WildlifePhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #NatureMastodon #MastoArt #photography

The United Nations Commission has not observed any indications of genocide in the behavior of the Russian military. However, the report does include evidence of Russian forces attacking civilian infrastructure, committing sexual violence against civilians, and unlawfully transferring civilians, including children, to Russia. Additionally, the report outlines the torture techniques employed by the Russian military, such as the use of electric shocks.

Even if I was forcibly detransitioned, I would still be me, I would never deny it, and I would not stop unless they killed me, because I can't not be me, and they're going to have to get their precious hands dirty if they want me gone because I'm not doing them the fucking favor.

My wife found this on the internet, and shared it with me.
So I’m sharing it with you.
Have a wonderful #stpatrickday !

When Irish skies are smiling...

This cloud-free view of Ireland, the Emerald Isle, was captured from space by our Aqua satellite back in 2010. Happy #StPatricksDay!
#NASA

An anonymous group of activists in #Austin, Texas performed a series of banner drops today in support of #trans rights, even as dangerous anti-trans bills are getting debated in the #Texas legislature.

The banners appeared this morning on multiple overpasses and a bridge throughout the city.

#transgender #LGBTQIA+ #activism #news #politics #TXlege

Maybe The Hague will give them adjoining cells.

Which political party do you trust the least? (Please boost for wider cross section)

I heard this is @HeatherScottID, a state representative in Idaho. I also heard her husband threatened the reporter and publication who printed it. I wonder if the internet will still have a copy of it in 100 years if we share it, and posing with a treason rag will be her legacy.

As many of you likely know, I’m immune compromised and chronically ill. If you’ve followed me on social media for a while you may not even recognize me anymore. I sure don’t recognize myself some days.

I got #Covid in May of 2022 and I have never recovered. I’m now an ambulatory wheelchair user and struggle daily. I can’t work. My quality of life is significantly compromised.

Many of us never recovered. We exist.

Please, wear a mask and stay home if you’re sick.

#LongCovidAwarenessDay #POTS

My goal was to get three hours of this to bring out as much detail as possible, but the cloud cover had other plans. This is NGC 2392, the Eskimo Nebula. At less than an arc minute wide, it's really too small for my equipment. But I got a hint of detail.

If you say "both sides have a point" about LGBTQ issues then presumably you think the same about antisemitism and racism.

You're wrong.

Attacking someone, refusing to accept them, denying them agency in their own lives, is unacceptable. Always.

So stop.

Today in 1950, 73 years ago: In Berkeley (California), researchers from the University of California announce the creation of element 98, which they name californium.

#OnThisDay