Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (38)
Faemike55
WOW! Very beautiful flowers and a wonderful birthday gift to a fabulous photographer!
kgb224
Stunning capture.Tara congratulations with your birthday.
flora-crassella
wonderful photo!!!!
renecyberdoc
yes i join in happy birthday from spain.
Digitaleagle
Very nice capture!!!
auntietk
Oh Sig, this is beautiful. Thank you, my friend! Full view is like a party for my eyes. Beautiful colors and clarity, ruffly petals and smooth seed pods, delicate stamens ... wow! Gorgeous. :)
DennisReed
Lovely colors. but not a plant you want to wrestle with!
lyron
Wonderful gift for Tara!!!
SSoffia
Wonderful Caesalpinia pulcherrima !!!!! beautiful capture :)
thevolunteer
Wonderful capture. Happy B-Day. And Mother's Day. Aloha
emmecielle
Splendid capture! Happy Birthday to Tara! :)
kenwas
Fine shot!
jeroni
Beautiful composition. excellent work
kaward
Amazing flowers, so bright and cheerfully coloured.
casmindo
A cheerful Happy Birthday. Nice job Sig
flavia49
great dedication and photo!
timtripp
marvelous!
sandra46
GREAT SHOT AND DEDICATION!
carlx
Wonderful and exotic plant!!!
shadownet
I recognized the plant/flower but could not put a name to it so glad you did. I guess I have more heard of Bird of Paradise than seen one, other than perhaps in pictures. Do not remember seeing it among my local flora. Very nice capture.
MrsRatbag
So beautiful! It doesn't look like the bird of paradise I'm used to seeing, is it another variant?
bmac62
Super shot and fine birthday present!
durleybeachbum
An astonishing plant!
flaviok
Fantástica captura meu amigo, aplausos (5)
Richardphotos
an awesome beauty Sig
danapommet
Beautiful colors and detail Sig. Very well done. Dana
Minda
beautiful capture sig...and nice dedication to your friend!!
debbielove
Well thats NOT what I was expecting! I thought it was a bird! Wonderful flowers! Real stunners! Rob.
sharky_
Very beautiful and a Happy Birthday to Tara... Aloha
M2A
Curious flower, it looks original and colored. Pretty.