Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Sometimes the most spectacular subject matter for a photograph is an incredible automobile. I will admit that from time to time, I really enjoy catching sight of a ridiculously overpriced piece of automotive perfection. I know that many people will consider this to be really materialistic, but I don't really care. I really can't think of a car that I don't like! However, tonight, the only car we're interested in is the Mercedes SLR McLaren.

Wikipedia describes the SLR like this: The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a sports car and supercar automobile co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Automotive.
Though often classified as a Supercar, and compared to cars like the Porsche Carrera GT, Lamborghini Murcielago and Enzo Ferrari, the presence of the automatic and its driving characteristics lead some commentators to classify the SLR McLaren as a Super GT whose closer rivals are the Aston Martin Vanquish and Ferrari 599 GTB. In fact, one of the goals of the SLR was to combine both supercar and GT characteristics [[1]].
It is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world. It is assembled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. SLR stands for "super-leicht, Rennsport" (super-light, racing). The car's base price is €443,066 £300,000 or $450,000 (see today's $/£/€ parity) [2].
A new version was introduced in 2006 called the "2007 Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Edition". The "722" refers to the victory by Stirling Moss and his co-driver Denis Jenkinson in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with the starting number 722 (indicating a start time of 7:22 a.m.) at the Mille Miglia in 1955. The "722 Edition" creates 650 bhp, with a top speed of 337 km/h (5 more than the standard SLR). A new suspension is used with 19-inch light-alloy wheels, a stiffer damper configuration and 0.4 inches lower body. The SLR is planned to end production in 2008, according to Mercedes-Benz

There really isn't much to discuss about this fine automobile. Please just enjoy these excellent pictures of a beautiful automobile.

Also a quick reminder. As today is Saturday, there will be 20 pictures today followed by none tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

Enjoi!


Mercedes SLR McLaren
by digitalFRANCE
2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
by uberschnapp

5630
by magnus*

5632
by magnus*

Forme ardite
by *NINO*

Mercedes SLR McLaren - LA Car Show 2006
by Luke409

Mercedes McLaren SLR
by Thomas Gigold

Mercedes McLaren SLR
by Thomas Gigold

McLaren Mercedes
by winklerw

McLaren Mercedes SLR
by NordicLondon

SLR McLaren
by Mike Boehmer

SLR kahn
by sjoerdtenkate

Served
by _janin

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Headlight
by null photography

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupé
by iPhotograph

Why do I hate Christmas??
by carlpuentes

VERY RARE!!
by riclane

Untitled-
by Xabier.M

the donald's mclaren
by alba

SLR side
by Mike Boehmer

Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time

On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet
Junebug skipping like a stone
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were sure wed never see an end to it all
And I dont even care to shake these zipper blues
And we dont know
Just where our bones will rest
To dust I guessForgotten and absorbed into the earth below
Double cross the vacant and the bored
Theyre not sure just what we have in the store
Morphine city slippin dues down to see
That we dont even care as restless as we are
We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, lamented and assured
To the lights and towns below
Faster than the speed of sound
Faster than we thought we'd go, beneath the sound of hope
Justine never knew the rules,
Hung down with the freaks and the ghouls
No apologies ever need be made, I know you better than you fake it
To see that we dont care to shake these zipper blues
And we dont know just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
The street heats the urgency of sound
As you can see theres no one around

1979 - Smashing Pumpkins


Good Night everyone and Thank You for sharing.

///LINE/\R\\\

ITS FRIDAY!!!!!

The weekend is here at last! And there was much rejoicing! Those of you that live in this part of the world (Southern California and surrounding) already know that tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo (literally the 5th of May). But for those of you that have no idea what Cinco de Mayo is:

"Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national, but not federal, holiday in Mexico which is also widely celebrated in the United States. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin over the French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
See main story: Battle of Puebla
A common misconception is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16th ("Dieciseis de septiembre" in Spanish)." Wikipedia.

Well, one more week down, and top ten pictures is off to a good launch. Thanks to everyone who has conacted me with encouraging words. There are so many incredible pictures to sift through, it is always difficult to stop and pick just 10.

I would love to hear recommendations for topics and if anyone has seen some really incredible pictures, let me know where they are. (Not that I need more sources!)

Today its all about lines. Straight lines, curved lines, bent lines, long lines, short lines... any line will do. For those of you really smart folks out there, I know that a line by definition must be straight so all those other "types" of lines aren't really lines. Well some lines (rules) are meant to be bent (broken)

If you need a little more clarity about what a line is check Wikipedia:

"A line can be described as an infinitely thin, infinitely long, perfectly straight curve (the term curve in mathematics includes "straight curves") containing an infinite number of points. In Euclidean geometry, exactly one line can be found that passes through any two points. The line provides the shortest connection between the points.In two dimensions, two different lines can either be parallel, meaning they never meet, or may intersect at one and only one point. In three or more dimensions, lines may also be skew, meaning they don't meet, but also don't define a plane. Two distinct planes intersect in at most one line. Three or more points that lie on the same line are called collinear."

So, today's pictures pay tribute to lines wherever they are found.

Enjoi!

Landmarks of London
by Robert Silverwood


Red Gate
by thephotoholic

Alcoa wallpaper
by mikeyexists

Chatfield Dam at Sunset, Littleton, Colorado
by bridgepix

guarded nature
by Darwin Bell

poured colors
by noble4

Sensuality

by lolade

Weave

by tom c

Untitled

by tequila4

Fog on the Golden Gate

by tkellyphoto

Has our conscience shown?

Has the sweet breeze blown?

Has all the kindness gone?

Hope still lingers on.

I drink myself of newfound pity

Sitting alone in new york city

And I dont know why.

Are we listening to hyms of offering?

Have we eyes to see that love is gathering?

All the words that Ive been reading

Have now started the act of bleeding into one.

So I walk up on high

And I step to the edge

To see my world below.

And I laugh at myself

As the years roll down.

cause its the world I know.

Its the world I know.

Collective Soul.


Well everyone... Enjoy your Cinco De Mayo,

As always, thanks to everyone for sharing.

Good Night!

Thirsty?

Well, no clever quote or song for this post, just a simple question. When you are thirsty, what do you do to slake that thirst? What is your drink of choice? Do you like clean, pure, ice cold water? Do you prefer beer, liquer, or some other spirit? What about soda (or pop)? Do you prefer coke or pepsi? Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper? Iced tea or lemonade? Orange Juice, Apple Juice, Cran-Rasberry Juice? Milk? There are so many ways to quench the thirst.

Another way to look at it. What makes you thirsty? Can an picture do that? I know it does it for me. I just have to see a tall frosty glass with little bubbles dancing above the rim slowly softening the edges of perfectly square cubes of ice and I start salivating like Pavlov's dogs.

Today: Top Ten Pictures that make me thirsty.

Note. There is a particularly delicious looking picture of an orange splashing into water. Obviously you can't really drink an orange. But how sweet it would be to squeeze that orange (and about 20 more) into a glass and drink the nectar down!! I once had the opportunity to go to a neighbors house, pick a bag of oranges, squeeze them all into a big glass pitcher. The resulting drink was sweeter and more fulfilling than any glass of orange juice I had ever had or have since. New life goal: Have orange tree in yard.

So go grab yourself a glass of whatever it is that you prefer and while you drain it down, have a tasty look at these top ten pictures of the day!

Enjoi!

drink up
by M_thanhouser_photos
liquid
by adlin

Blue Mosque
by louna.malaussene

Blue Curacao
by Weed Graphic

Coke Blak
by weezerrock007

day i got cookie
by Splat Worldwide

Splash
by strelitzia

Refresco
by taylorkoa22

Refreshing Beverages
by rcvernors

Drink Dr. Pepper!
by Darwin Bell

Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew are most definitely my favorite carbonated beverages. Recently, Dr. Pepper ran a national ad campaign in the United States using the Queen song, "I want it all" I played that song somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 times driving in my car... because it felt "right" Anyway, speaking of things that make me thirsty, everytime that song pops into my head, I make a quick dash for the fridge to grab an icy cold Pepper! "wouldn't you like to be a pepper too?"

So, since I haven't got a better song, here's Queen.

Adventure seeker on an empty street

Just an alley creeper light on his feet

A young fighter screaming with no time for doubt

With the pain and anger cant see a way out

It aint much I'm asking I heard him say

Gotta find me a future move out of my way

I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now

I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now

Listen all you people come gather round

I gotta get me a game plan gotta shake you to the ground

Just give me what I know is mine

People do you hear me just give me the sign

It aint much I'm asking if you want the truth

Heres to the future for the dreams of youth

I want it all (give it all) I want it all I want it all and I want

It nowI want it all (yes I want it all) I want it all (hey)I want it all and I want it now

Im a man with a one track mind

So much to do in one life time (people do you hear me)

Not a man for compromise and wheres and whys and living

Lies

So Im living it all (yes Im living it all)

And Im giving it all (and Im giving it all)

Yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah I want it all all all all

It aint much Im asking if you want the truth

Heres to the future

Hear the cry of youth (hear the cry hear the cry of youth)

I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now

I want it all (yeah yeah yeah) I want it all I want it all and I Want it now

I want it Now I want it I want it

As always, thanks everybody!!

Good Night.

Want to put my tender heart in a blender

Watch it spin around to a beautiful oblivion...
-Eve 6-

What happens when you can't capture the vastness of whatever it is you are looking at? You stitch your pictures together. There are many ways to accomplish this effect and they are all so cool. I think I have a new favorite category of photographs!!

I really wish I had more time to look into the roots of this awe-inspiring method of creating larger than life art. But I will add here just the smallest intro... if you want to explore further. This technique has (at least) its beginning with a man named David Hockney.

Wikipedia (in part) referring to Hockney,
"Hockney became dedicated to painting and showcasing his work in various exhibitions. His work had gained esteem and international attention. Critics applauded the power of his art. Most of his paintings from the late 1960s and early 1970s, particularly Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy (1970–1971), adhered to the concept of naturalism — that is, subjects as they appear. His interest in photography greatly advanced his skill in this area, but Hockney felt as though he depended on it too much. He preferred using the photographs to study light, rather than to aid his memory. For the most part, Hockney was concerned with finding a balance between pure skill and pure art in his idea of naturalism. He did not want his art to seem overtly academic, moreover, he had not satisfied his abstract tendencies.

In 1974, Hockney was the subject of Jack Hazan's film, A Bigger Splash (named after one of Hockney's swimming pool paintings from 1967). At first, Hockney was shocked by the film which raised intimate issues. In particular, he was disturbed by the film's portrayal of his relationship with Schlesinger. However, after the film received attention and praise, Hockney signed for its release. The film was banned in many countries for its explicit portrayal of homosexuality, but won many awards among the critics.

In the 1980s, Hockney turned to photo collage. Using a Polaroid camera, Hockney would assemble collages of photos taken as quickly as possible. Hockney was fascinated with the idea of seeing things through a window frame. This medium allowed him to see things in a whole new fashion. He took a drive in the southwest United States taking thousands of photos and fitting them altogether into various collages, such as You make the picture, Zion Canyon, Utah. His artwork also began to take on a psychological dimension. In the autumn of 1983, Hockney began a series of self-portraits, allowing the public to enter his personal inner life. In these works Hockney was quite vulnerable and unsure of himself, even though he had achieved major artistic success.

In the 1990s, Hockney continued to experiment with rising technologies. He used a color laser copier in some of his works and reproduced some of his paintings. Hockney was impressed with the vibrancy of color that could be achieved using such devices. He also began sending drawings to friends via fax machines and was thrilled with this new way of communication. Much of the appeal lay in the fact that these newly produced images had no financial value at all at the outset. At first, this way of sharing art was an act of love and appreciation. Later however, galleries in other countries featured fax exchanges with David Hockney."


Of course the ideal use of this technique is to take a lot of pictures of something too big to capture in a normal way and collage them together. But in recent years, programs have been created that allow you to turn a single photograph into what looks like a lot of smaller pictures put together to form a collage. I am not sure why you would want to do this... since for me, the whole point of the exercise is to capture something more massive than you could otherwise. Nonetheless, they all look really cool!!

Special thanks to The Masterpiece Cleaners Photo Collage & Joiner Association
All of todays pictures were from this group on Flickr.

So, here for your viewing pleasure are the Top Ten Post-Hockney Pictures of the Day.
Please, for maximum enjoyment, visit the artist sites and view these incredible photos full size.

Enjoi!


Bellagio Lagoon
by PhineasX
Guild 45th
by scovophoto

I need more concrete

by Virginia G

Bayeux Hockney

by giovannirodente

F R A G M E N T O S U R B A N O S

by Mindrain

Nicosia Church

by fredodurand

skysketches in southshields

by paintMonkey

early riser

by sakuramaki

Delta

by leo leogeo

Giza: Pyramid of Khafre

by stusmith_uk

If you didn't go look at these in full size yet, don't read another word... GO SEE THESE INCREDIBLE SHOTS AT THEIR ORIGINAL RESOLUTION!!!!

I hope you enjoyed!!

So what's the deal with tender hearts in blenders and beautiful oblivions? It is a song by Eve 6 that has been stuck in my head all day. I love any song that mixes words together in a way that has never been done before, like this song. If you haven't heard of Eve 6, Wikipedia to the rescue again!

Eve 6 was a rock band from Southern California, who disbanded in 2004. The band consists of Max Collins (vocals, bass),Jon Siebels (guitar), and Tony Fagenson (drums). Their musical genre has often been classified as Alternative Rock or Punk Rock. The band formed in 1995 in La Crescenta, California as Eleventeen; the name Eve 6 was only adopted later, after they already had a recording contract and were looking for a replacement drummer.

They also (and wikipedia wont tell you this) enjoyed eating at Yaki's (a small teriyaki place in burbank, ca) and were taking pictures for their album art there one day as I was eating a teriyaki bowl!!

Anyway, here is "Inside Out" by EVE 6

Chorus

I would swallow my pride

I would choke on the rhines

But the lack thereof would leave me empty inside

I would swallow my doubt turn it inside out find nothing but faith in nothing

Want to put my tender heart in a blender

Watch it spin around to a beautiful oblivion

Rendezvous then Im through with you

I burn burn like a wicker cabinet chalk white and oh so frail

I see our time had gotten stale

The tick tock of the clock is painful

All sane and logical

I want to tear it off the wall

I hear words and clips and phrases

I think sick like ginger ale

My stomach turns and I exhale

Chorus:

So cal is where my mind states but its not my state of mind

Im not as ugly sad as you

Or am I origami

Folded up and just pretend demented as the motives in your head

Chorus:

I alone am the one you dont know you need take heed feed your ego

Make me blind when your eyes close sink when you get close tie me to the bedpost

I alone am the one you dont know you need you dont know you need me. make me

Blind when your eyes close, time me to the bed post

Chorus:

My only question is, what are rhines? Does anyone know? Please let me know even if all you have is a guess or a theory. It seems like it should be rinds but it is most definitely supposed to be rhines. My best guess at this point is that perhaps it is intended to be short for rhinestones. But as I say, that is just a guess. If any of you know Max, Jon or Tony, and don't mind asking them, I would really love to know!!

As always, thanks to everyone who shared their talents!!

Good night

Kodachrome

You give us those nice bright colors...
Paul Simon


Less is more.


One color at a time.
I found this neat group on flickr. It is called, "Color Fields (Abstract images, just ONE color in the whole frame". This group has a simple concept: take photos of a frame-filling field of A SINGLE COLOR and post that. It can be textured, have imperfections, etc...but the frame should be filled with one color. They should be abstract enough that the color is clearly the focus, and the most important thing in the photo.

I really like that.


Today's topic: Color Fields


To further explore this (aside from visiting this group) here are some interesting links.


"Krazy Dad" has an "Experimental Colr Pickr" that displays pictures based on your choice of color.


The ever important Wikipedia weighs in with this article.


A note of clarification regarding the title of this post. Yes, I know that Kodachrome has nothing in common with monochrome except, I suppose, that you could take a monochrome picture on Kodachrome film...


Anyway, enough of that, here are today's top ten color fields. Enjoi.


Segments
by finsmal

Study in light and blue #4
by Hiddenson

Blue

by Streetwalker

blue lines

by lee251073

Moss

by sadalit

sensitive green
by filipe franco


Yellow

by howcheng

orange

by floresita

20070331 058

by tonyguk

Red.

by J_Ymmit

Color. What else can you say? Color is exciting. Tasty. Energizing. Refreshing. Relaxing.

And who better to tell us about it *besides the artists above* than Paul Simon...

Take it away Paul...

When I think back

On all the crap I learned in high school

It's a wonderI can think at all

And though my lack of edu---cation

Hasn't hurt me none

I can read the writing on the wall

Kodachrome

They give us those nice bright colors

They give us the greens of summers

Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah

I got a Nikon camera

I love to take a photograph

So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

If you took all the girls I knew

When I was single

And brought them all together for one night

I know they'd never match

my sweet imagination

everything looks worse in black and whiteKodachrome

They give us those nice bright colors

They give us the greens of summers

Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah

I got a Nikon camera

I love to take a photograph

So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome

Mama don't take my Kodachrome

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome

Leave your boy so far from home

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

As always, thank you everyone for sharing

good night