Sky and clouds from a window of a plane from Houston to Moscow, Russia, June 19, 2010
Clearing sky over Taunton River after an evening thunderstorm from an apartment in northern Fall River at 8:14 p.m. Massachusetts, August 13, 2003
Clearing sky over Taunton River after an evening thunderstorm from an apartment in northern Fall River at 8:13 p.m. Massachusetts, August 13, 2003
Sky flower vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, August 1, 2013
Sky after an evening thunderstorm from an apartment in northern Fall River at 8:01 p.m. Massachusetts, August 13, 2003
Sky over Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, view from Ferry Street. Washington, Texas, May 3, 2008
Camel smiling from sky after it was lifted by a hydraulic crane in Livestock Market, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 18, 2013
Sky over Taunton River five minutes after sunset (at 7:42 p.m.) from an apartment in northern Fall River. Massachusetts, April 29, 2003.
Cloudy sky before rain, view from apartments on Saint Charles Avenue (for "wallpaper"). New Orleans, Louisiana, July 23, 2006
View of a sky to the north from the upper Nahal David. Ein Gedi, the Middle East, March 29, 2001
Sky flower vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, October 12, 2013
Sky over Taunton River 13 minutes after sunset (at 7:36 p.m.) from an apartment in northern Fall River. Massachusetts, April 15, 2003.
Dramatic stormy sky on Al Rafiei Street in Onaiza area. Doha, Qatar, March 9, 2016
Desert species of morning glory (Convolvulus cephalopodus) against blue sky on sand dunes near the spring in Maszhabiya (Al Mashabiya) Reserve near Abu Samra. Southern Qatar, March 25, 2016
Dramatic dark sky on Al Rafiei Street in Onaiza area. Doha, Qatar, March 9, 2016
Sky flower (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, November 8, 2009
Sky after an evening thunderstorm from an apartment in northern Fall River at 8:01 p.m. Massachusetts, August 13, 2003
Sky flower (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, September 13, 2009
Sky over Taunton River two minutes after sunset (at 7:39 p.m.) from an apartment in northern Fall River. Massachusetts, April 29, 2003.
Greenhouses at night, with stars visible on the sky, in TAMU Holistic Garden in Texas A and M University. College Station, Texas, May 19, 2009
Sky over Taunton River in northern Fall River at 7:52 p.m., Massachusetts, May 13, 2003
Sky flower vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, October 4, 2009
Sky over Taunton River eight minutes before sunset (at 7:15 p.m.) from an apartment in northern Fall River. Massachusetts, April 15, 2003.
Sky over Taunton River one hour before sunset (at 6:36 p.m.) from an apartment in northern Fall River. Massachusetts, April 29, 2003.
View of a sky to the north from the upper Nahal David. Ein Gedi, the Middle East, March 29, 2001
Sky seen through caves in the upper side of the horseshoe formation of Nahal Darokh river 4 miles east from Sde Boker. The Middle East, April 9, 2001
Khozama flowers (Horwoodia dicksoniae) against blue sky near a fence of Al Defai Farm in Lebwairda area north from Al Khor. Qatar, February 12, 2016
View of a sky to the north from the upper Nahal David. Ein Gedi, the Middle East, March 29, 2001
Sky over Taunton River four minutes before sunset (at 7:19 p.m.) from an apartment in northern Fall River. Massachusetts, April 15, 2003.
Sand and sky ripples in area of Jebel Al-Nakhsh (Khashm an Nakhsh). South-western Qatar, March 25, 2016
Sword-leaved helleborine grass (Centropodia forsskalii) against blue sky on sand in Maszhabiya (Al Mashabiya) Reserve near Abu Samra. Southern Qatar, March 25, 2016
Dramatic cloudy sky on Al Rafiei Street in Onaiza area. Doha, Qatar, March 9, 2016
Sand and sky texture in area of Jebel Al-Nakhsh (Khashm an Nakhsh). South-western Qatar, March 25, 2016
Angels lifting a boy into a sky filled with cherubs on tomb of Barelli in Saint Louis Cemetery No. 2. New Orleans, Louisiana, June 18, 2006
Sky flower vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, October 6, 2012
Clustered yellowtop (Flaveria trinervia) with sky as background on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014
Plant of Linaria albifrons against blue sky on roadside south from Ras Laffan. North-eastern Qatar, February 19, 2016
Spike of candy grass (Eragrostis cilianensis) against blue sky in a roadside depression of Khawzan Road. Qatar, February 20, 2016
Flower of Texas Indian-mallow (Abutilon fruticosum, Abutilon denticulatum, local name gargadan) against blue sky on roadside of a road to Zubara in area of Al Magdah farms. North-western Qatar, February 20, 2016
Morning glory (Convolvulus cephalopodus) against blue sky on sand dunes near the spring in Maszhabiya (Al Mashabiya) Reserve near Abu Samra. Southern Qatar, March 25, 2016
Sky flower vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, August 10, 2019
Sky flower vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, October 5, 2019
Sky flower vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, September 3, 2020
Sky flower (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, November 12, 2020
Sky flower vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) in Antique Rose Emporium. Independence, Texas, August 27, 2021
Darkened sky over New Main Drive on campus of Texas A and M University during a partial solar eclipse. College Station, Texas, April 8, 2024
Serene autumn scene at Laskovy Beach (Russian: Laskovyy Plyazh) in the settlement of Solnechnoe, located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Saint Petersburg. Laskovy Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Kurortny District of Saint Petersburg. The name "Laskovy" translates to "Affectionate" or "Tender," while the settlement name, Solnechnoe, means "Sunny". This area has a rich history as a summer resort destination; formerly known as the Finnish village of Ollila, it became a hub for St. Petersburg s intelligentsia and dacha owners in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The image shows a trio of birch trees with vibrant yellow and orange leaves, which is characteristic of the "Golden Autumn" season in the Leningrad Region during early-to-mid October. The golden leaves contrast strikingly with the blue sky and the dark blue waters of the Gulf. The large white concrete sphere on the sand is a landscaping feature. Russia, October 9, 2025
Graffiti series, located on the concrete retaining wall separating the beach from the promenade along the Gulf of Finland (near the Sestroretsk Resort or "Kurort" area) which is a fanciful and nostalgic mural composition featuring whimsical animals and nature motifs. This section features a large bear with a cub, rendered in a sketch-like style with soft shading. The bears are set against a background of rolling green hills and a cloudy sky, evoking a gentle, fairytale forest atmosphere. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 9, 2025
Monochromatic texture, moving away from high contrast to explore the subtle variations within a single color range. The scene is dominated by a spectrum of yellows, from the pale ochre of the birch leaves to the deep amber of the maples, creating a "wall of gold" that feels immersive and enclosing. The overlapping layers of foliage--dense understory merging into the mid-canopy--eliminate the sky, focusing the viewer entirely on the intricate, lace-like pattern of the leaves against the dark vertical trunks. The reflection in the water breaks these details into impressionistic strokes, blurring the line between the real trees and their mirrored image, much like a watercolor painting where forms dissolve into light and color. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Wild, impressionistic beauty of Alexander Park s naturalistic sections. The image is dominated by the rough, dark bark of mature oaks (likely Quercus robur) in the foreground, which contrasts sharply with the soft, hazy backdrop of golden maples and underbrush. The dense layering of vegetation--from the grassy forest floor to the tangled mid-story shrubs (like hazel or dogwood) and the towering canopy--creates a sense of enclosure and depth, reminiscent of a Levitan landscape painting. The scene captures the full richness of the "Golden Autumn," where the vibrant yellows and russets of the foliage seem to glow from within the forest, creating a warm, immersive atmosphere despite the overcast sky. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
This structure is the celebrated Bridge of Pipedreams (Pont des Re^ves Tubulaires), a provocative modernist installation by the French brutalist architect Jean-Luc Beton-Brut. Conceived as a deliberate counterpoint to the park s romanticism, its design emphasizes raw honesty and the tension between industry and nature. The bridge s aesthetic lies in its stark minimalism. The unapologetic linearity of the twin pipes slices through the landscape, while their raw, oxidizing steel is intended to mirror the natural decay of autumn. The simple arch frames the surrounding forest, and the industrial grey of the metal creates a seamless chromatic dialogue with the overcast sky, blending the man-made object into its environment through color and form. See AI-generated descriptions: (a) and (b). Oranienbaum palace-and-park ensemble in Lomonosov (a suburb of St. Petersburg), Russia, October 13, 2025
From the elevated terrace of the Leuchtenberg Palace, a thoughtfully designed "prospect" (vista) opens up towards the Gulf of Finland, offering a serene coastal panorama framed by autumn foliage. This clearing was intentionally cut through the forest in the 19th century to create a direct visual link between the palace and the sea, a common feature in romantic landscape architecture. The busy road visible in the middle ground is the Oranienbaum Highway, which separates the upper park from the lower coastal meadows. In the distance, the grey-blue waters of the Gulf of Finland merge with the overcast sky, creating a vast, moody backdrop that emphasizes the estate s prime coastal location. Sergievka Park, Old Peterhof, west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 13, 2025
This panoramic view from the tower of St. Nicholas Church looks south-west towards Toompea Hill, capturing the dense layering of Tallinn s medieval and religious history. The striking structure with black onion domes is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, an Orthodox cathedral built in 1900 in the Russian Revival style. Its imposing presence on Toompea Hill contrasts sharply with the surrounding red-tiled roofs, symbolizing the complex history of the Russian era in Estonia. In the foreground and middle distance, you can see key parts of the city s defensive network: The square tower with the tall red roof in the foreground is the Maiden Tower, a 14th-century defensive structure that now houses a cafe. Just behind and slightly to the left of the Maiden Tower (partially obscured) is the massive Kiek in de Ko"k artillery tower, whose Low German name ("Peep into the Kitchen") referred to the guards ability to see into nearby homes. Connective sections of the medieval city wall run between these towers, marking the boundary between the lower town and the upper citadel. The green space visible near the base of the wall is the Danish King s Garden (Taani kuninga aed). According to legend, this is where the Danish flag (Dannebrog) fell from the sky during a battle in 1219, turning the tide in favor of the Danes. The garden sits on the slope directly facing St. Nicholas Church. Estonia, October 16, 2025
Evening view of Lai Street (looking towards St. Olaf s Church). The large grey building on the right (Lai 44/46) stands out with its curved bay windows and decorative facade elements. This is a fine example of Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) architecture, which appeared in Tallinn during the early 20th century. Its smoother lines and larger windows contrast sharply with the smaller medieval merchant houses nearby. On the left, the yellow building (Lai 33) retains a more traditional, modest scale typical of the street s residential past. At the end of the street, the illuminated white tower of St. Olaf s Church (Lai 50) acts as a dramatic focal point. The lighting accentuates the church s massive walls and the green copper spire against the twilight sky. Tallinn, Estonia, October 16, 2025
Aerial view of Tallinn. The heart of the image is the medieval Old Town, identifiable by its dense cluster of red-tiled roofs, church spires (including the tall St. Olaf s Church), and the fortified Toompea Hill. Surrounding the Old Town are the modern high-rises of the financial district (left foreground), including the Swisso^tel and Tornima"e towers. To the right, the Port of Tallinn (Vanasadam) stretches out into the Baltic Sea, with ferries and cruise ships visible. The sweeping coastline of the Tallinn Bay dominates the background. The clear blue sky and the calm sea suggest a crisp, sunny morning. View from a window of an airplane from Tallinn to Helsinki. Estonia, October 17, 2025
In this wider view of the dried Flag Pond basin, the landscape reveals a different growth pattern of the cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus). Rather than forming a low, continuous carpet, the plants here have grown into distinct, robust clumps separated by wide veins of pale, heavily caked mud. The deep fissures running through the sun-baked earth create a striking geometric web, framing the bright green bushes of buttercup. In the background, a band of dry brown reeds marks the pond s original edge, giving way to a dense tree line under the same overcast, gray sky. Near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, March 14, 2026
