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Segovia, Segovia, Castilla y León, Spain. This photo was taken by Scott Jarvie. To ck out other castles in Spain click on http://www.castillosnet.org/spanishcastles/source/mapa_index.php

The plumes on this bird are regal and magnificent. The colors of the feathers sporadically positioned to look like eyes create a near vertigo type of sensation to the viewer. This picture, taken by Scott Jarvie in Santillana del Mar, Spain is of a peacock.

The male peacock is generally always this ornate and attractive. And, that is the point. Peacocks must perform elaborate dances complete with bird karaoke to impress their female counterparts. It’s funny though, that these birds go to such lengths to impress the drab, unimpressive females. But, just as is the case with birds of paradise in New Guinea, years of competition and fickle females has evolutionarily made the peacocks feathers and courtship ritual more robust and intricate. The rituals for men and women are somewhat similar, except women generally are though of as the more beautiful ones. However, it is still the man that has to impress.

This picture is from Galicia, Spain, and I can’t help but think about all the white light and contrast in this picture. The interesting part about it to me is that while I was in northeastern Brazil, light-haired, blue eyed people with fair skin were referred to as ‘galegos.’ In portuguese it means quite literally ‘fair skinned.’

The reason people call lighter skinned people this in Brazil is because of the Spaniards from Galicia. Only a century ago the Galician Spaniards were trading their wares with the portuguese colonies in northeastern Brazil, and so the people changed the name from Galician to Galego, and, it stuck. Now anyone who looks even remotely like a Galician is declared a galego.

Looking at the picture we can see the city and the walls that keep the river at bay, while the lights from the buildings glimmer on the water. This is the light that emanates from the galegos.

It was after scott returned from his trip to Europe in 2006 that we got to know eachother. He had long hair back then. Anyway, here is one of my favorites. Maybe scott can chime in and tell us more about it. I’m curious to know what his impression was of the friendly Spanish gentleman in this picture.

My name is Ian McConnaughey.  I am a blogger, podcaster, writer, and jack of all trades.  When Scott first approached me about the Envision Project, I knew it was something special.  When he spoke he had a passion in the way he presented it and the wheels in his head would not stop turning.  That is the kind of thing that inspires people to work for you.  Vision.  Opening up the entire world through pictures and stories.  It had limitless potential, and the idea of helping people from all walks of life learn and envision their world in a whole new way had me transfixed.  We are currently getting a programming team together and working out some of the legal details of the project.  Research is a constant necessity, as there is so much to know, learn and apply to make this thing fly.  I am honored to be a part of this great effort, and know it will bring countless blessings to many people. Ian