Posts tagged "nature"

All since I can remember, I have a huge love for animals and birds.  In harsh winters, I would hand-make bird feeders and feed wild birds.  Birds knew me and as soon I would show up, I swear they would follow me.

We had pigeon chicks on our balcony.  One time, when chick fell off the balcony, I went outside searching for him.  Sure, I found him and put back in the nest, even though my little hands were scratched from chick’s sharp nails.  That was my very first rescue.

Then, there was my first time when I saw a fawn. My heart melted, as people were bottle-fed him.  I fell in love with deer.  I even had my favorite postcard with fawn on it.

Then I volunteered at Pelican Man Bird Sanctuary, where I was fortunate to hold young foxes, feed baby raccoons, baby opossums, baby squirrels, baby armadillo, fawns, deer.  We even received a baby bobcat once.  Since it was a bird sanctuary, we would receive different kinds of birds from chick to an adult, from songbirds to raptors to water birds.  I would feed them, administer medication and even help out vet.  I learned a lot at the sanctuary, not only about the species, but also their songs and behavior.  I can identify birds by their song in the wild most of the time.  Of course, I did some rescues myself, too, and you will find me bringing a turtle to another side of the road.

Animals and birds are in my heart.  They seem to trust me, and therefore, I am able to come relatively closely to them and capture them on my camera.  To photograph wildlife, I find this helpful:

1.  Take a photo from a longer distance, just in case if animal gets scared and runs away.  At least you’ll have a memory captured.

2.  It is really important to gain trust with animal.  Respect their wildness and their space.

3.  Have lots of love and care in your heart.  Animals are very sensitive to energies.  That’s how they survive.  I believe, they sense their world.  They sense if you are dangerous, or not.

3.  Read their body language.  For example, deer will stump its feet, if it senses a danger.

3.  Stop, do not make any sudden movements.  Freeze in a place, play like you are tree.

4.  Eyes is a huge communicator.  Do not stare at them.  If they sense you, lower your eyes.

5.  Stalk like a cat if you have to.  Inch slowly.  Try not to make sounds.  Animals are very sensitive to sounds, like snapping a branch.

6.  If there is a tree or bush, hide behind it.

7.  Gentle voice sometimes helps, and keeps them curious. (It might help or might not).  Once, while I talked very gently, wild Mom deer with little fawn went by very close to me.  As if, she understood me that I am not dangerous.

Here are some of many photos I took of wildlife.  It is great to be one with a nature:

 Eastern Cottontail rabbit

I captured this Nine-Banded Armadillo in the dark.  I had no idea that armadillos can stand up on the back legs.  Did you know they are really good swimmers, too?

Beach bunny.  I took this shot at Siesta Key beach.

Four trouble-maker baby raccoons.

Did you know American Indians call raccoons hand-washers?  They have very sensitive paws and they feel their food with them.  Therefore, if you see a raccoon eat, it looks like they wash their hands constantly.

That’s unusual-looking animal, isn’t it?  It is a Fox Squirrel, and it is so much larger than normal grey squirrel.

I handed this bread to squirrel.  She made a great poser.   As you can see from her nipples, she is having baby squirrels in her nest.

Baby mockingbird meets baby rabbit

My Little Poser

You can feel my excitement when I captured this beautiful deer family all out in the open!  Notice their ears.  One ear is turned to me, and other ear is turned behind them.  They are always on the lookout.

This deer gave a birth to a fawn right in this spot.  I saw a little one, but the grass was way too tall to capture him.  Plus, I kept a distance not to scare them.

A pregnant doe snacks on water plants.  I captured her through the fence.

Two deer in sunset light.

Well, hello there.  Two year old all grown up since I saw him as a little fawn.

A tender moment.  Once again, I shot them through the fence, giving them a distance and privacy.

Blowing blueberries at me.

Now you know why fawn has so many white spots.  It is easier to camouflage among wild flowers.

This fawn is just hours old.  Still had wobbly legs while walking.

A beautiful couple.

Close together.

This fawn is adventurer.  His curiosity always took him away from his mom and sibling.  He is a survivor and very independent.

I got really close to him.  He is smelling the air where I stand.  Deer are still near and dear to my heart.

Watch out!  A new Sheriff in town!

This is a Cattle Egret.  When they are not around cattle and horses, they are seen on top of cars.  I even saw some riding on the top of cars, even on one at speed of 45 miles per hour.

Osprey by her nest.  Ospreys are called fish hawks because they mainly feed on fish.

Can you spot an owl?  Great Horned Owl is perfectly camouflaged.  The only give away is when song birds or crows make a ruckus by screaming and yelling and even attacking the owl.

Beautiful Bald Eagle perched on the fence.  It is not a familiar sight where we are.

Juvenile Wood Stork.  Notice the fuzz still left on his head.  Also, notice how he stands.  He seems comfortable.

Sandhill crane with two chicks.  This scene made my heart melt.   Did you know that Sandhill cranes paint their feathers with stick and mud to better camouflage themselves?  Notice brown patches on adult?  That’s painted.

Please use caution.  Common sense and keeping distance, especially while photographing chicks or baby mammals are required.  Mom birds and Mom animals are very protective of their young.  So, if you sense they are uncomfortable from their body language, keep still or carefully leave.  It is not worth to scare them and putting your being in danger.  Animals are wild and it is their territory.  Got to be respective of them.

See Big Cat Love photography here.

Most photography is all about the right timing.  The captures tell a story.  The action frozen in time leaves us to our imagination to see what is happening and what will happen next.

I find fascinating to watch pelicans and their dive-bombing ability to catch fish.  Like I mentioned previously, to be able to capture a moment, I usually get to know my subjects pretty well.  I used to volunteer at Pelican Man Bird Sanctuary.  Not only I handled them, helped to tube-feed them, fed them with fish, and released them back to the wild, but I found out lots of fascinating things about pelicans.

Here are some photos I captured throughout the years on Siesta Key Beach, FL.

Here goes Peter!

Family outing.  Notice the middle one?  Adult Brown Pelicans are teaching a juvenile how to fish.

Big Splash!

Who’s first?

Pelican the Conductor

Extreme Sport-Fishing.  The guy is oblivious what is behind him.

Why pelicans never drown?  Their bones are hollow; therefore, they are very lightweight.

Bubble Bath

Ok, Guys.  Listen up.  Our fishing quota for today is…  Jack, are you listening?

Among Sea of Stars

One fish for you, one fish for me…  Hey, guys, leave some for me!

Cormorant Kidnapper

He strikes again.

Help!!!  Pelicans falling from the sky!!!

On the count of three. Promise?

Double Splash!

S-c-r-e-e-c-h!  Pelican on breaks.

Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?

Did you catch my fish?  Brown Pelicans can hold up to three gallons of water in their pouch.  They usually drain their beaks, and then put their heads up to swallow the fish.  That’s when sneaky seagulls grab the fish.

What do you mean you did not catch fish yet?  Lazy bastard!

Laughing Seagull is taking Brown Pelican hostage.

Synchronized flying

Brown Pelicans need a warm weather to survive.  Their feet and pouches can get a frost bite if the temperatures stays as low as 32 degrees for more than twelve hours.  Also, in cold temperatures, pelicans cannot find the fish, since fish go deeper.  Pelicans only dive a short distance because of their hollow bones.

Confusing the seagull.

Pelicans have been on Earth for around forty million years.

In the breeding season, Brown Pelicans dress themselves.  Their eyes become brighter.  The yellow head becomes of brighter yellow and their beaks become redder, as if they used a lipstick to make themselves prettier.

Pelican Dangers:

If you and your friends go fishing, please do not leave fish bones around and do not throw them back in the water.  Fish bones get stuck in pelicans’ mouths and throats.

Also, please do not leave fishing line around.  Pelicans get tangled up in it.

Sometimes when pelicans dive for a fish, fisherman’s hook gets caught in pelican’s mouth.  It’s painful and pelican get scared.  When that happens, please DO NOT CUT the line.  If that happens, pelicans get tangled up in fishing line, and can’t fly; therefore, can’t feed themselves and die.  If a pelican does get snagged by fishing hook by accident, very carefully reel him in and gently try to remove the hook.  Their beaks are harmless, just stay away from the pointy sharp hook at the end of the beak.  If you can’t remove the hook, please call nearest wildlife sanctuary or US Fish and Wildlife Services.  In Sarasota, Florida that would be Save Our Seabirds.  In Venice, Florida that would be Wildlife Center of Venice.

By saving and protecting them, we can enjoy these fascinating creatures in the wild.

We, photographers, love light.  The right light makes a photograph magical. Some of us even use an artificial light just to make that photo great!

What if the day is overcast, and there is no sunshine?  Does it prevent us to go out and create with our cameras?  Do we wait for sunshine days?

With overcast days, we can create different kind of magic.  Lack of light should not prevent us from doing what we love.  Life is all about ups and downs, right?  Different light creates different moods.  Bright colors stand out more.  Reflections are more profound.  Low light makes a scene more mysterious.  Some of our photos become like a painting.

Here are some captures that I did in a low light:

Look at that reflection in the water.

Peeking out dolphin has so much contrast.  The scene becomes magical.

Pelicans and reflections makes this photo like a painting.

This photo seems like telling a story.

Selective focus makes this photo vacation-like.

Pelican and low sunset light makes this scene dreamy.

Swan and cute cygnets.

Low angle makes people look like walking on the water.

Young couple and a dream.

Foggy conditions makes colors look more brighter, like feet and beak of this Snowy Egret.

Young fisherman-to-be.

Fog makes this scene look mysterious.

Sun peeking through the clouds.

Fishing frenzy

Look at those legs and reflections.

Gigantic clouds makes this boat so small.

Ready for fishing frenzy

Skimmers all lined up.

Diving Pelicans

Skimmers and sandpipers unite.

So, next time, there is a cloudy day, do not be afraid to venture out and create a low light magic.

If we look more closely, we can find a new world open up to us.  All we have to do is look down in front of us.  Children are great at it because they are closer to the ground.  Everything fascinates them; therefore, they notice things that we adults do not even see.

What if we would take the time and see what is in our gardens, what is in the grass.  If we just lay down on the grass, we would be instantly connected to the nature, and to the world that we forgot about.  Let’s take our shoes off and hear the earth and notice different inhabitants in the grass and flowers.

Photography is a great way to notice many things, and in macrophotography, we make the smallest creatures big.  We magnify them.  Some of these creatures look like a cartoon, some of them look like an alien, some of them are so colorful, and some of them are so well camouflaged, that it is hard to see.  The only give away is if our eyes meet theirs.  The captured flowers become bigger that we want to smell and touch them.  The petals look so soft.

There is an intriguing world out there if we just stop and notice little things.

Look at intricacy of these little snow-white blossoms.

Monarch butterfly is enjoying Milkweed.  Look at those polka dots on the wings and body.

A curly young palm tree branch

Lady bug in the coming out sunshine.

This one is a curious creature.  It looks like a spider, but it is not.  It is capable of walking in the water.  It’s a water strider.  I aligned sun’s reflection in the water with the strider to have the star effect on its feet.

A beautiful American Lady butterfly.  Also called American Painted Lady.

Now that’s what I call camouflage. Katydid on a leaf.

White Peacock Butterfly with back-lit wings.  This sight really warms you up, isn’t it?

That’s a really well camouflaged butterfly, too.

I know, spiders to some are creepy.  However, they are great because they eat harmful insects.  This one is called Golden-Silk Spider.  Just look at those legs.

Drumming.  I love colors on these Southeastern Lubber Grasshoppers.  They are huge in size.

This one is an Imperial Moth.  It is giant Silkmoth, and it is one of the largest silkmoths in Florida that can reach 5″.

Another colorful spider against pink flower background.

Do you know that dragonflies come in pretty red color?  This is a male Scarlet Skimmer.  Dragonflies are great because they eat mosquitoes.

A close-up of Eastern Pond-hawk.  Just look at the detail of those wings and colors.

Little snail in the sunshine.

Blue Dasher dragonfly on my finger.

Now this creature looks like an alien, isn’t it?  Look at those eyes!  It is a Robber Fly.

A bug hiding from the rain in the rose.

Rain drops on spider web make it magical.

It looks like frog enjoying a bubble bath.

Green anoles are Florida’s natives.  Do you know they can change color to camouflage themselves?  They can go from green to brown instantly.

Not to confuse with Cuban Brown Anole who is native to the islands of the West Indies.  They believed to arrive in Florida through tropical plant nurseries.  They also can change color from brown to black, but never to green.

This one I call “Dear God, please send me some flies.”  Look at that concentration.

Macrophotography taught me a lot about smaller creatures.  It is great not only to notice them, but to learn something about them.  Next time, you go by the garden, take a closer look and see what it lurking there and see what you can capture.

A painter picks up a brush and expresses what is deep in his or her heart.  A photographer does the same.  The only difference is that photographer’s tool of creativity is a camera.  To an ordinary eye, it seems like it is a point-and-shoot, not a big deal.  However, it is not that simple.  See, the real photographer captures what is inside his or her heart using the outside world.

There are so many photographers with simple and gigantic with telescopic lenses cameras.  There are beginners and there are professionals.  Yet, some photographers stand out more than others, and not necessarily the ones with the best cameras around.  Why is that?  There are point and shoot and go people, and there are real artists.  What distinguishes artists from regulars?  They are masters of what they do.  They are masters of their craft.  They have an artistic eye and open heart and use them to create magical masterpieces.

How do they do that?  We can learn from them using these techniques:

1.  Capture what is in your heart.

2. Shoot with the feeling (this should come naturally).

3. Be aware of surroundings.  Notice things other people miss.

4. Use imagination, be creative.  Try different angles, textures, focus.  Do not be afraid to experiment.

5. Do not let anything stop you (rain, dark, etc.).

6. Follow your gut feeling.

7. Be patient.

8. Be your own boss (do not follow rules, be different).

9. Practice makes it better.  Know camera as your best friend.

10. Have a camera always ready. You never know what you’ll see.

First and foremost, capturing what is in your heart is a main and most important ingredient.  If you shoot what you do not love or like, pictures always will look crappy.  Now, if you capture something you love, it will show in your pictures.  You’ll give a special attention to your subject and even might find better angles to shoot.  The connection to a subject will make a whole world of difference.  If you love people and fashion, for example, specialize as a fashion photographer.  If nature and animals are in your heart, be a nature photographer.  Some photographers are skilled in various areas.  They bring love and undivided attention in anything they choose to capture.

Second technique is an extension of first.  If the first step is utilized, second technique should come naturally.  When capturing a subject, bring out a feeling.  Get to know the subject.  For example, in shooting a rose, smell it, admire its beauty.  Bring that awe and fragrance into a picture.  While capturing animals or birds, get to know them, study their behavior.  In shooting pets, play with them, bring out the cuddliness.  Look for traits of personality and capture the right moments.  In capturing people, get to know them to capture a real essence of them.  While shooting places, get to know the history and feel the energy, capture the light.

To have a great photographic eye, you got to be aware of surroundings and be present.  This way you can notice things that others miss.  Being in the now will surprise you what kind of things you start to notice.  You might be seeing the same things everyday.  However, if you look more closely, you can always notice something new.  For example, you go to the park and follow the same route.  If you are aware of your surroundings, you might notice a new flower or tree blooming.  In capturing people, you might use a different angle, different background.  Also, there might be an animal camouflaged.  Many people might drive or go the same routes, and they might not notice what is in front of them.  To be aware of surroundings all the time, it might bring some surprises.

In creating pictures, do not be afraid to use your imagination.  Be creative.  Try different angles, textures, focus.  Do not be afraid to experiment.  Bring your camera to the ground, shoot from up, sideways, upside down.  Let your creativity flow.  Make up backgrounds, shoot a splash of color in a dull places.  Capture different emotions, movements, surprising angles.  Sky is the limit to your abundant creativity.  Do not be afraid to be different, odd, unusual.

Once the sun goes down or starts raining or snowing, we find ourselves cooped up inside.  However, we miss some best shots.  Surprisingly, we can make the most creative shots in these conditions.  Rain brings the best reflections and raindrops that look like diamonds.  The night brings the splashes of colors.  Do not let any weather condition stop you.

Another technique is always follow your gut feeling.  If you do, you’ll find some great opportunities to take pictures in certain places at certain times.  That’s how I found much of wildlife and got pretty close to them.  Your inner knowing knows the best.  Never deny it.

Patience plays an important role as well.  It is easy to shoot a bird and animal standing.  Now, if they are in action, it is so much more interesting.  It brings out aliveness and personality, a moment.  Sometimes, we got to wait for a right timing, right light, right motion.  Also, the same goes with people.  We can take numerous shots and may not like any of them.  Now, if we have a subject to relax, or surprise them unexpectedly, or taking candid shots, we can capture their essence and personality.  I remember one winter my toes were getting cold in the water to the point of numbness, but I captured the most incredible pelican family fishing photos.  Patience is the key to find that right timing and right moment that pays off tremendously in creative shots.

If we would follow all the rules, there would be no creativity left and all the photos would be the same.  Be innovative, create something that nobody created.  Rebel because in being a rebel, all creativity comes out.

Of course, then comes practice.  In shooting constantly, we get to know our camera as a best friend.  We start from basics.  Then we get closer, then we try out creative shots, then experiment different angles, different lighting, different moods.  With practice, our hands become more steady in cases where we do not use tripod.  With practice, our pictures become better and better.  We see our subjects differently; we incorporate different techniques.

At last, always have your camera ready.  You don’t want to miss what you suddenly see.  You don’t want to miss opportunities that present themselves.  If you do miss the shot, just take time to enjoy what you see.  Do not beat yourself up that you have no camera ready.

My camera is my constant companion.  It taught me to be in the present, to enjoy every moment, to see things that many people miss.  Through camera, I capture moments that take my breath away, surprise me.  Through photos, I tell stories what I see, feel, touch, experience, hear and love to share with others.

See how to shoot your beloved pet here.

I love photography and the imagination that comes with it.  It is great to capture a bird in action and freeze that frame.  I follow a bird closely and see what it will do next.  It takes patience, but it is well worth it.

Here I created an album of birds that seem like dancing: the elegance, the beauty, the gracefulness.  Birds can awe us and surprise us.

Anhinga is doing a tap dance.

Brown Pelicans dancing Rumba

Ballet dancing lessons

Line dancing

Shall we dance?

Thank you for all the ovations.  You are too kind.

Yoga s-t-r-e-t-c-h

Ballet on the water

Gulls are break-dancing

Dancing with the Stars

Ballet

Acrobat Act

Reddish Egrets are the best dancers.  When they fish, they spread their wings, they jump, they go down, they turn to one side than other.  It is amazing to watch them.  While spreading their wings, they create a shadow to better see fish from the sun’s glare.

World, here I come! Fish beware!

Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake”

Cha-Cha-Cha

Bird version of “Dirty Dancing” episode in a lake.

Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery. – Martha Graham

There are shortcuts to happiness and dancing is one of them. – Vicki Baum

Dancing is like dreaming with your feet! – Constanze

The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word. – Mata Hari

To touch, to move, to inspire.  This is the true gift of dance. – Aubrey Lynch

Dance is music made visible – George Balanchine

Dancing is silent poetry – Simonides

To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak – Hopi Indian Saying

You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart – Author Unknown

Tern teasing dance, “I got a fish, come and get it.”

Life is a dance.  Let’s enjoy it.

Dance like there’s nobody watching, Love like you’ll never be hurt.

Sing like there’s nobody listening, And live like it’s heaven on earth. – William W. Purkey

See Right Timing photography here

It is been raining.  When there is a lack of sunshine, there is usually a lack of energy and a lack of smiles.  On a rainy day, we tend to curl up in the bed and read a great book, or watch programs.  Perhaps, it is a time to relax and take it easy.  For some reason, we are programmed to escape rain.  Some of us even dread rain.  We cover ourselves with huge umbrellas and run as fast as we can.  Well, of course, we do not want to get wet.

Have you ever walked in the rain?  How about dance?  What if we think, we have a sunshine in our hearts, would rain still bother us?  Let’s look at the nature.  Rain refreshes everything around us.  The grass and leaves become greener.  The flowers start to bloom.  The bright colors become even more brighter.  The air becomes fresher.  It washes away all the dust and brings a new energy.  Everything becomes alive.

How about life?  When troubles enter our lives, do we run as fast as we can from them?  Do we hide from them?  Or we take them how they are and take charge over them?  What if we look at our troubles as rain – underneath of it all there is something refreshing hidden.  There is always the way.  There is a great change waiting to happen, if are willing to see and act upon.

There is a beauty inside of us that might be sleeping for now.  The rain might awaken it, if we allow it.  We just got to trust ourselves and follow our gut and see where it will take us.  Let’s go dance in the rain.  Let our aliveness get loose!

“A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in.” – Frederick The Great

“Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.” – John Updike

“A poet is someone who stands outside in the rain hoping to be struck by lightning.” – James Dickey

“A rose must remain with the sun and the rain or its lovely promise won’t come true.” – Ray Evans

“I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains.  One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness.” – Adeline Knapp

“I’m singing in the rain, just singing in the rain; What a wonderful feeling, I’m happy again.” – Arthur Freed

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.” – Author Unknown

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down.  Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton.

“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.” – Roger Miller

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” – John Ruskin

“Life is full of beauty.  Notice it.  Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces.  Smell the rain and feel the wind.  Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” – Ashley Smith

Interesting, I found this quote that resembles my morning thought:

“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo.

Low light and overcast outside?  No problem.  Here is a post about photos in Low light:

Low Light Photography

If we look closely, we can see the most beautiful paintings created by nature.  They are filled with color and detail, and they are ever-changing.  Nature clears our mind and fills us with wonder.  Here are some of my photos of water.  The reflections and ripples cause an incredible effect that leave us inspired and awe-struck.

Reflections of forest

Reflections of the sky

Reflections of fence in rain water.

A pond full of stars

Reflections of tree in ripples

Fish swimming in Monet.

Colors of trees in reflections

Sun stars on a cloudy day

Huge ripple

Moving water in the creek

Little Blue Heron fishing on a sun path.

Two turtles looking on in our Princess reflection

Fish point of view

Rain water in the creek

Floating leaf creates a 3-D effect.

The next time you are by body of water, look more closely, and you’ll see the most amazing paintings created by nature.

We are so fortunate to live in Sarasota where Siesta Key Beach was voted #1 beach in United States by Dr. Beach.  Why Siesta Key is so famous?  It has a sugar-white sand that consists of 99% of pure quartz.  It is cool to the touch and very soft, as if you walk on the cloud.  The beautiful blue waters are so clear that reflect the sky.  Also, you can see fish swimming nearby.  If you are lucky, you may spot dolphins, too.

I love Siesta Key!  Here are some photos for you to enjoy.  You can take a mini-vacation.  Imagine the sound of waves, and seagulls laughing.  Sit down and relax…

White sand wherever you look.
Low angle makes seagulls look big and people small

Interesting… bike in the water?

Dancing among the stars

Mirage, captured at low angle and selective focus

Siesta Key sand after tropical rain glistening in the sun

Footprints in the sand designed by breeze

Lucky Gull

Beach chairs matching the gulf

Have you done parasailing?  It’s extra-ordinary experience from bird’s point-of-view.  Loved it!

Catamarans and their reflection

Surfer girl

Kites in the wind

Dolphin encounter

Dolphin family

Bird footprints

Flying Birds up close

Go with the flow

Catamaran boys

Swimming with pelicans

Serenity

Going for adventures in the sun

Flying kite

Catamaran among the stars

Siesta Key beach is beautiful.  So relaxing… A true Paradise!

Blue hour happens right after sunset.  After sun goes down, all the drama unfolds before our eyes.  The colors become dark bringing out the mystery of the night.  Usually, people leave after sun’s touchdown.  I like to stay for a moment, and capture what is left of the day.

Right after sun goes down, the horizon becomes green.

If shooting at the low level, we get an interesting perspective.

Motion of sandpipers.

Bird’s point of view

After feeding frenzy resided.

Glowing eyes are kind of spooky.

Lone shell at the beach.

When the sun goes down, what will you capture?  How do you see the world?