Foto Friday – Creepy Crawlies

February 18, 2010 - 11:59 PM by Rachel Neiman · 5 Comments
Filed under: Environment, Foto Friday, General 

Last month, scientists at the University of Haifa announced that they had discovered a new and previously unknown species of spider. I don’t know about you, but I greet news like that with mixed emotions: pride in our local research institutions, curiosity at seeing the bug and — now having seen the photos (like this one by researcher Yael Olek) — a dash of alarm. This thing is a big as a Mack Truck.

The researchers say that this spider’s leg-span can reach up to 14 cm., which makes it the largest spider of its type in the Middle East. The species was discovered in the dune of the Sands of Samar in the southern Arava region. It is a member of the genus Cerbalus and was named Cerbalus aravensis for its native habitat, if you like knowing that sort of thing.

Unfortunately, however, the poor critter’s habitat is endangered by — you guessed it — humans and their boundless capacity to screw things up. According to head of research Dr. Uri Shanas, mining projects in the area will endanger the existence of the spider as well as possibly other unknown animal species living in the sands. Hopefully, efforts will be made to preserve this unique region in the Arava, as well as the lifeforms crawling in, out and round about.

Photographer Marco Jona has a particular fascination for such creepy crawlies. Waiting patiently for the right moment, he manages to get in close and catch almost human-like expressions. A few of his photos are presented here with more on display at his website.

Foto Friday – Robert Gorsoun sees Israel’s beauty

October 23, 2009 - 7:04 PM by Rachel Neiman · 2 Comments
Filed under: Art, Foto Friday, General, Travel 

Robert Gorsoun is a photographer who takes pictures for the love of it. Wherever he travels, he snaps pictures and Israel is beautiful through his lens…

…the Banias in Israel’s north…
Robert Gorsoun - Banias

…a rainbow, captured in mid-storm over the Herzliya beach…
Rober Gorsoun - Rainbow over Herzliya beach

…a field of flowers by the roadside, stretching on forever…
Robert Gorsoun - Flower field

…a water lily…
Robert Gorsoun - Water lily at Park Utopia

…or flowering cacti at the Utopia Orchid Park
Robert Gorsoun - Cacti at Park Utopia

…and on through to the crater at Mizpe Ramon.
Robert Gorsoun - Ramon Crater panorama

More photos by Gorsoun — including some spectacular panoramas that don’t fit on an Israelity page but should be seen — are posted on Panoramio.

Foto Friday – Yuval Nadel takes to the air

April 10, 2009 - 1:12 PM by Rachel Neiman · 1 Comment
Filed under: Art, Foto Friday, General 

It’s Passover week. And that means the entire nation of Israel is sitting sweltering in traffic jams as the entire north of the country goes south and the entire south of the country heads north — all in the name of family fun. While they do that, let’s for a moment, take to the air with photographer Yuval Nadel.

yuval-nadel-kineretKinneret – Photo by Yuval Nadel

yuval-nadel-wadi_haraWadi Ara – Photo by Yuval Nadel

yuval-nadel-ramon-2Ramon Crater – Photo by Yuval Nadel

yuval-nadel-emek_heferHefer Valley – Photo by Yuval Nadel

yuval-nadel-ramonRamon Crater – Photo by Yuval Nadel

yuval-nadel-dead_seaDead Sea – Photo by Yuval Nadel

And so, we land…
yuval-nadel-arava-101kmKilometer 101, Arava – Photo by Yuval Nadel

More photos are available at Yuval Nadel’s website.

 

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