Black Flag Boricua

Join the Women’s Fightback Network at the Baltimore Women’s March January 20 for a special #FreeAhedTamimi and #Justice4Korryn contingent.

Olympic National Park coastal trail, Washington

Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland  

Time Witness by Stefano Barattini 

Stefano Barattini’s project refers to transition spaces, places sometimes left behind, exposed to a possible mutation. These places go back to a vague time, exploring an abandoned condition of which we appreciate the aesthetic dimension.

The Faraway Nearby … again!

Yesterday, we didn’t want to travel far, but didn’t feel inspired by any of our usual walks, so we pulled down a few of the really local footpath walking books we have, and selected one nearby. 

Mottram St. Andrew isn’t really a place you pass through en route to anywhere, and so I’d never explored it in all the 25 years I’ve lived here. This tiny village has remained utterly unknown to me, and so, it ended up being one of those lovely occasions when one feels as if one is faraway, and maybe on a holiday somewhere. 

This one took us from Mottram Cross, through places called Alder Wood, Pott Brook, Adders Moss and Waterfall Wood, where a small tributary (of the Bollin?) has its first tinkling cascade down through red sandstone beneath the tree canopy, and through Clock House Wood back onto open farmland.

Waterfall Wood was a magical surprise; a place to linger and wish for things, because it felt almost as if it might have that sort of rare numinous quality to it. I was utterly enchanted, and as the wooded valley opened out into wider woodland, it was almost disappointing when we realised we could place ourselves once again in our local landscape. The holiday bubble popped suddenly. 

Remembering Puerto Rican freedom fighter Lolita Lebron, who died 6 years ago today.

The Puerto Rican nationalist had a political awakening in 1937 at the age of 18, when a group of Puerto Rican activists working for independence from the United States were marching against the imprisonment of a leader in their movement. Police officers opened fire on the peaceful demonstration, killing 19 civilians. This event became known as the Ponce Massacre, and it planted the seeds of rebellion on Lebron’s mind.

Her activism and political activities grew, and by 1954, she was ready to fight for an independent Puerto Rico. She and three others bearing pistols stormed the U.S. Congress, which was full of legislators debating an immigration bill, screaming “Viva Puerto Rico Libre!”

Several congressmen were wounded, and Lebron was later convicted of attempted murder and other crimes. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter pardoned her after spending 25 years in prison.

Lebron died in 2010 at the age of 90.

Drone Excellence

Dronestagram is very excited to announce the winners of the 3rd annual International Drone Photography Contest. Thousands of entries were submitted from everywhere in the world by talented professional photographers and amateur drone photo enthusiasts.The competition was judged on creativity and photographic quality by a panel of experts including National Geographic Deputy Director Patrick Witty as well as Emanuela Ascoli, Photo editor of National Geographic France and Dronestagram.

The winning images, identified from the top:

Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, Umbria, Italy by fcattuto 

Cable Beach by Todd Kennedy

Summer camp of Gran Canaria by Karolis Janulis

Moab Rock Climbing by Maxseigal

Complejo Acuático Norte de Santander by losmanesdeldrone

Chugach Mountain Range, Alaska by High Angle Shot

Kalbyris forest Denmark by Mbernholdt

Swarm of sheep by Szabolcs Ignacz

Piton de la fournaise, Volcano by Jonathan Payet