The golden pheasant, also known as the Chinese pheasant, and the colorful rainbow pheasant is at Sylvan Heights Bird Park. In Chinese culture, the golden pheasant is considered the ancestor of the phoenix and represents auspiciousness. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the robes of high-ranked bureaucrats were emblazoned with images of the golden pheasant as a symbol of their power and authority.
Golden Pheasant
Golden Pheasant Closeup
After the sunset at Lake Hickory, a golden glow on the water and clouds
Post Sunset Glow
The sun reflects on Lake Hickory, making the waves look golden
Golden Waves
The sun’s light from the trees at a side pond at Lakeshore, Durham, North Carolina, creates golden, sky and shadow reflections on the water.
Shadows and Light Reflections
Named for the striking golden plumage on their heads, these beautiful cranes at Ark Encounter are the national bird of Uganda. African crowned cranes have an impressive six-foot wingspan and are one of only two crane species capable of perching in trees since they possess long hind toes.
African Crowned Crane at the Ark
We end our series on Bridges with an image of a “golden” bridge (the Manchester Bridge at 9th Street) leading into downtown Richmond, Virginia.
Light winds combined with golden rays of sunset create an almost painted image at Sunset Beach, North Carolina
The first clock at St Martin Church in York, England was installed in 1668. The version (below) of the Little Admiral was created in 1779 and the bracket was added in 1856. Also notice the golden face of Father Time. The timepiece was extensively restored in 2012. Since then, its eight bells chime on the hour and quarter hour.
As the sun sets in Bera, four-wheel drive Gypsy riders end their safaris and sunset creates a golden glow over the hills.
The intricately carved honey-colored (further accentuated at sunset) Somnath temple on the western edge of Gujarat is believed to be the place where the first of the twelve holy jyotirlingas emerged in India – a spot where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. The temples lies at the meeting of Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati rivers and the waves of the Arabian Sea ebb and flow touching the shore on which it is constructed. The ancient temple’s timeline can be traced from 649 BC but is believed to be older than that. The present form was reconstructed in 1951.Â
The setting sun transforms the temple sign, in Hindi script, painted with Indian flag colors by casting a golden glow.
The Somnath temple is a Hindu temple located in Gujarat, India. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus and is believed to be first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. We visited the temple at sunset and the golden glow of the sun’s rays is evidenced in all images.
Photography is not allowed on the temple site so we had to access a walkway along the ocean to capture the images.
Sunset lights up the railway tracks with a golden hue in Kayavarohan, India
The early morning sun casts a golden glow on the bird reflections at a pond in our resort in Gujarat, India
The Teton Range basks in the golden glow of sunrise while the remaining landscape is still unlighted and foggy
The Teton Range gets a golden glow as the sunrise paints the mountain tops, while Snake River is covered by fog.
We end 2021 with an image of a golden sunset at Lake Hickory, North Carolina. Hope this year was better than the last one.
Sunset at Lake Hickory, North Carolina casts golden hues on the waves and water while illuminating the clouds
The sun sets over the bridge at Lake Hickory, North Carolina; lighting up the clouds and water in a golden glow
The golden rays of the setting sun light up a crane at the riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware
Early morning sunrise casts a golden glow on the pier as clouds reflect off the beach water at Isle of Palms, South Carolina
