LeLoo’s World Critter Crater, June 2025 – click any image for full size
Three million years ago (more or less!), a volcano estimated to be up to 5,800 metres tall and within what is now Tanzania, Africa, blew its top and collapsed in on itself. Today, the remnants of massive eruption form the Ngorongoro Crater. Located 1,800 metres above sea-level, the crater floor covers an area of 260 square kilometres and sits over 600 metres below the surrounding crater walls. It stands as the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled caldera crater, and in 2013 was made one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
The crater sits within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Directly abutting the Serengeti National Park, the NCA forms a part of the Great Migration trail, a circular route an estimated quarter-million zebra, 1.7 million wildebeest, almost half a million gazelle and hundreds of thousands of other African game follow annually. As such, the NCA – and Ngorongoro Crater – is home to a rich diversity of animal life (together with birds), and is a major tourist destination, attracting 500,000 visitors a year.
Embark on a breath-taking tour of a crater inspired by Tanzania’s iconic Ngorongoro Crater, where adventure unfolds in exhilarating ways. Whether you choose a rugged jeep tour or take to the skies in a silent glider, you will be met with a landscape brimming with untamed beauty. Or, take the zipline ride into the heart of the crater, where you can explore on foot. Many scenic vistas await at every turn, offering the perfect backdrop for capturing those cherished summer memories.
– LeLoo’s World: Critter Crater description
LeLoo’s World Critter Crater, June 2025
Obviously, trying to recreate an entire caldera in SL isn’t really feasible; however, working with just half a Full region, Leloo (LeLooUlf) has done a remarkable job in providing hilly, rugged terrain backed by tall peaks, complete with its own small-scale crater with an animal watering-hole covering part of the floor. In addition, the landscape extends beyond the crater, presenting elements that might be taken as the shores of one of Tanzania’s may lakes (Lake Manyara, perhaps, given its proximity to NCA?) and a little hint of plains land.
The Landing Point sits on the crater rim, close to the eastern end of the region, and immediately reveals this is a setting with a lot to do as well as see. There’s a zip line to carry visitors down into the crater, passing over the watering hole in the process (itself a nod to the lake within Ngorongoro Crater?). Or, for those who prefer, there is a microlight air-tour with a very appropriate name given its somewhat Heath Robinson look: the Rickety Cricket. Best enjoyed in Mouselook, it offers a nice eagle’s eye automated tour of the setting (you don’t fly it yourself), lasting 4 minutes.
LeLoo’s World Critter Crater, June 2025
If zipping and taking an aerial tour don’t appeal, it is also possible to circumnavigate the crater rim. Doing so offers a full view of the setting, together with steps down into the crater or out to the land beyond the crater’s walls. And, as an aside, those taking the walk should keep an eye out for tour jeeps, which also use a part of the crater rim, and also for the opportunity to take your photo with a couple of the locals!
The start of the jeep tour can be found in the lowlands west of the crater, alongside the local market. Like the microlight tour, this is automated, and will last some three minutes, and, again like the microlight, is suitable for individuals and couples / pair.
LeLoo’s World Critter Crater, June 2025
In terms of the wildlife within Critter Crater, this is – like it’s real-world inspiration – a rich variety to be found: elephants, lions, giraffe, leopards, hippos, gazelle, African buffalo, hyenas, zebra, crocodiles and more. There are even some interesting characters not generally native to Tanzania to be found in the form of tigers, stoats and sloths, all of whom offer a curious little twist to the setting. The birds and wildfowl are also diverse, with flamingos being the most numerous.
There are multiple places where visitors can take a seat and relax, both up high and down low. Those feeling darling and float among the animals at the main watering hole – even right up close to hippos, despite their nature. If this doesn’t appeal, there bathe can also be found in the pool close the waterfalls in the western part of the setting, whilst fishing can be found just of the western coast.
LeLoo’s World Critter Crater, June 2025
Speaking of the western end of the setting, there is a house located up on a high plateau there. The land is labelled as Katie’s Home, and I’m not sure if it is public or private, as there are indications it might be either (e.g. being on its own parcel whilst having sign boards in the grounds offering visitor teleports to the air and ground tours). There are no signs to suggest it is private, and the grounds are where a couple of the local tigers might be found. I’d therefore suggest that if you wander up to it in search of the tigers, keep out of the house, just in case!
I admit that I personally found the environment settings perhaps detracted from the beauty of Critter’s Crater (I opted for setting with more of a HDR lean when exploring / photographing), but that’s a minor personal preference. The flipside is there is no mistaking the attractiveness of the setting, or the fun to be had in visited and exploring.
Logos representative only and should not be seen as an endorsement / preference / recommendation
Updates from the week through to Sunday, June 1st, 2025
This summary is generally published every Monday, and is a list of SL viewer / client releases (official and TPV) made during the previous week. When reading it, please note:
It is based on my Current Viewer Releases Page, a list of all Second Life viewers and clients that are in popular use (and of which I am aware), and which are recognised as adhering to the TPV Policy.
This page includes comprehensive links to download pages, blog notes, release notes, etc., as well as links to any / all reviews of specific viewers / clients made within this blog.
By its nature, this summary presented here will always be in arrears, please refer to the Current Viewer Release Page for more up-to-date information.
Outside of the Official viewer, and as a rule, alpha / beta / nightly or release candidate viewer builds are not included; although on occasions, exceptions might be made.
Chat Mentions Type @ then pick a name. To follow: audible alerts and highlight colour pickers. This does not support generic mentions such as @everyone or @here.
My Outfits subfolders: now supports the use of subfolders.
Build Floater improvements: increase to scale boundaries; Physics Material Type now updates when selecting linked objects; Repeats per Meter value no longer incorrect for non-uniform sized objects.
Hover height: the minimum/maximum is now +/- 3 meters.
Snapshot floater: L$ balances can be hidden independently of the rest of the UI.
Preference Search bar: general usability and readability improvements.
Refer to the release notes for full updates and fixes.
Second Life Project Lua Editor Alpha (Aditi only), version 7.1.12.14888088240, May 13 – No Change.
For June 2025, Cica Ghost brings us Unicorns and Candies; a realm offering a sense of childhood dreams, creatures of wonder and bright, happy colours. It perfectly encapsulates everything found within the accompanying quote from Roald Dahl:
Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.
Cica Ghost: Unicorns and Candies, June 2025
This is a quote which challenges us to maintain a sense of wonder and to approach life with a childlike curiosity, while expressing the idea that magic is not just about casting spells or supernatural occurrences, but about a sense of wonder, imagination, and the belief that extraordinary things can happen; that magic can come to all of us in many forms – a beautiful moment, a surprising discovery, or the realization of a dream. All we need is to be open to it; if we allow adult cynicism take over or become too rigid in our thinking, we can so easily miss out on the joy and wonder that life has to offer, in whatever form it might take.
All of the above is perfectly encapsulated in Cica’s build. It is an expression of childhood imaginings and dreams; a place where unicorns can be found, and dinosaurs and snails converse together and stars fallen from the skies walk hand-in-hand or sit in contentment, where houses are sewn and trees look like strange candy-topped lollypops. It’s a place made for smiling and fun, where you can climb and walk, dance or sit, and which can quite unexpectedly put a bounce in your stride!
Cica Ghost: Unicorns and Candies, June 2025
Just as Dahl’s words inspire us to keep our imagination alive and to retain that child-like curiosity and wonder, so Cica’s installations constantly offer us the chance to do so. They allow us to escape the demands of the everyday and instead, to explore the extraordinary, have fun, to delight in what we see and experience – and to find the magic of a smile or a laugh. To never lose sight of the doorway to the extraordinary our imaginations offer.
So go see Unicorns and Candies. Dance, sit, find the the magic, the unexpected and enjoy.
Space Epoch’s Yuanxingzhe-1 (YXZ-1 or Hiker-1) verification test article rocket hovers over the sea before splash-down, May 28, 2025. Credit: Space Epoch
China is continuing to expand its space endeavours on both the public and private fronts – drawing some flak from SpaceX fans in the process.
On Wednesday, May 28th, a Long March 3B rocket lifted-off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, southwest China at 17:31 UTC, carrying aloft the Tianwen-2 explorer, bound for 469219 Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3), an Apollo class, near-Earth object (NEO) and quasi-satellite of this planet.
A sample-return mission, Tianwen-2 is due to rendezvous with the 40-100 metre diameter asteroid in July 2026. It will spend some 7 months examining it and attempt to collect samples from its surface and sub-surface, using both touch-and-go (dropping briefly onto the asteroid in an attempt to gather samples before being pushed away using spring tension in the sample arm), and anchor-and-attach (literally hooking itself onto the asteroid). Departing the asteroid in April 2027, Tianwen-2 will then swing by Earth, dropping off gathered samples in a re-entry capsule in November of that year. In all, it is hoped that around 100 grams of material will be gathered from the surface and sub-surface environments of the asteroid. An interesting aspect of the mission is that Tianwen-2 will attempt to deploy a nano-rover onto the surface of 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, and place a nano-satellite in orbit around it.
An artist’s rendering of Tianwen-2. Credit: Najing University via Weibo
The aim of the mission is to gain insight into 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, and either answer questions as to whether or not it is actually a chunk of the Moon blasted clear following an asteroid impact or, if not, it is hoped the mission will provide insight into the nature and characteristics of NEOs (particularly whether they also contain organic molecules), and allow comparative studies between the samples returns and those from Hayabush2 and OSIRIS-REx, furthering our understanding of asteroids and the role in the early solar system.
Returning the samples to earth will not be the end of Tianwen-2’s mission. Using Earth’s gravity after releasing the sample return capsule the vehicle to push itself onto a rendezvous 311P /PANSTARRS (aka P/2013 P5), which it will reach in 2031. This is an unusual object called an active asteroid – an object with an asteroid-like orbit, but exhibiting comet-like visual characteristics (such as having a tail). Estimated to be 240 metres across and with a sidereal period of 3.24 years, it was first located in 2013, and attracted attention due to its fuzzy, smudged appearance in initial images. Later that year, the Hubble Space Telescope revealed that the fuzziness was due to it having around 6 individual tails. These are thought to be the result of the asteroid is either spinning so fast, lose surface material is being thrown off of it, or that a series of “impulsive dust-ejection events” of unknown origin gave rise to a cloud of debris around the asteroid, which were then formed into the tails by solar radiation pressure.
Rather than just making a fly-by of 311P /PANSTARRS, the plan is for Tianwen-2 to use its solar-eclectic propulsion system to decelerate as it approaches the asteroid so that it can enter orbit and study it at length.
Asteroid 311P /PANSTARRS (P/2013 P5) revealing is multiple tails as revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA / ESA
Also on May 28th, the private-venture launch company, Space Epoch, became the first Chinese company to make a sea-based vertical launch of a reusable rocket element and successfully recover it in a controlled splash-down.
The Yuanxingzhe-1 (YXZ-1 – also referred to a “Hiker 1”) is designed to be a reusable booster some 64 metres tall and capable for delivering 6.5 tonnes to a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). For the May 28th, flight, a test article standing 26.8 metres tall and using a single Longyun methane-liquid oxygen (methlox) motor and massing 57 tonnes, lifted-off from the sea-based Haiyang spaceport, Shandong province, at 20:40 UTC, climbing to an altitude of 2.5 km. The motor brought the vehicle to a hover before shutting down, allowing the vehicle to fall back towards the sea using four grid fins to maintain its vertical orientation. After a free descent, the motor then re-lit, slowing the vehicle and bringing it to a safe hover just a metre or so above the water. It then shut down, allowing the vehicle to gently enter the water and topple onto its side and await recovery. In all, the 125-second flight verified the broad operational parameters of the full-size Hiker-1, which will also splash-down at the end of its flights, rather than trying to land or be caught out of the air.
The flight, defined by Space Epoch as “100% successful”, immediately came under attack by SpaceX fans. The latter claimed China was merely “copying” SpaceX rather than innovating, particularly through the use of stainless steel in vehicle construction and methlox propellants, together the the use of four grid fins on the rocket for steerage / stability – as if SpaceX had any sole claim to these capabilities (they have not even patented the use of grid fins for rocket attitude control in an atmosphere).
A similar “they’re just copying!” came on May 29th, when another Chinese start-up, Astronstone, announced it has received sufficient initial funding to push ahead with its design for a reusable launch vehicle. Called the AS-1, this is intended to deliver up to 10 tonnes to low-Earth orbit (LEO) when being reused and up to 15.7 tonnes in fully expendable mode. It is to utilise methlox propulsion, stainless steel construction, grid fins for descent control and is to be designed to boost-back to its launch facilities and captured by “chopsticks” mounted on the launch tower.
A Render of an Astronstone AS-1 (with payload attached!) “caught” within the “chopsticks” of its launch tower. Credit: Astronstone
In this, Astronstone is not shy about taking a leaf from the SpaceX book; the only difference is that of scale: AS-1 will be a modest 70 metres tall with a 4.2 metres main diameter (roughly the height of SpaceX Super Heavy, with half the diameter), while its 10-tonne reusable payload lift capacity is well in keeping with most modern commercial launch requirements. If successful, the company plan on offering the AS-2, capable of around two or three times the payload capacity of AS-1.
Earlier in May 2025, I covered the threats to NASA’s budget under cuts being considered by the Trump administration (see: Space Sunday: of budgets and proposed cuts and Space Sunday: more NASA budgets threats). At the time, the concerns were based on a so-called “skinny” budget document released by the administration, which outlined where the cuts would fall.
On May 31st, 2025, the administration quietly published a more detailed version of its federal budget proposal. This solidifies many of the threats to NASA’s mission. It confirms the intent to slash NASA’s budget by 24%, with the majority of the cuts coming within NASA’s space science, Earth sciences, aeronautic and education areas. In real terms, and adjusted for inflation, it sees the agency’s budget reduced to levels not seen since 1961, with the potential for 5,500 job losses and possible centre closures.
The science budget zeros-out 41 in-development or in-progress science missions. These Include:
Many NASA Earth science programmes and missions, current and future, including the decadal survey Earth System Observatory missions; cancellation of most venture-class Earth science missions; and potentially impacts to the “cyclone watching” CGNSS network currently in operation.
The in-development DAVINCI and VERITAS missions to Venus, and the Mars Sample Return Mission (MSR – not helped by NASA repeatedly shooting itself in the foot where this is concerned).
The operational Mars Odyssey and MAVEN Mars orbiters (ending two valuable missions and limiting relay communications with other Mars missions); the New Horizons mission; OSIRIS-APEX – a mission extension to the highly-successful OSIRIS-REx, and intended to provide information on the Earth orbit crossing asteroid (and potential future impactor) 99942 Apophis.
The Chandra X-Ray Observatory: earmarked for cancellation under the Trump 2026 budget. Credit: NASA
The budget additional calls for an effective crippling of NASA’s biological and physical sciences, reducing its budget to just US $25 million from US $87 million, and ending cooperation with the European Space Agency on Venus and Mars missions. While the flagship Nancy Grace Roman Telescope survives cancellation, it receives just half its requested budget – US $156.6million – potentially impacting its ability to be launched in 2026.
In terms of human spaceflight, the Trump administration is apparently initiating a “bold mission of planting the American flag on Mars”, which sees some 6.38% of NASA’s total budget being steered into Mars-centric initiatives:
US $864 million for a “Commercial Moon to Mars (M2M) Infrastructure and Transportation Program” (which as side-note, will replace SLS / Orion after Artemis 3 – assuming any such system is actually flying by then).
A total of US $400 million to be put into a “near-term entry, descent, and landing demonstration for a human-class Mars lander”, and commercial payload deliveries to Mars.
Some of this will be offset by the cancellation of the Lunar Gateway boondoggle; however, it is hard not to see hints of the influence of the SpaceX CEO in these matters. He has been vocal in his opposition to anything other than his “grand vision” of colonising Mars, and these budget allocations, particularly the US $400 million appear to be directly tailored to SpaceX’s benefit, the company apparently prioritising landing a “human-class lander” as soon as possible, and then moving directly to cargo deliveries.
Isaacman Out
The budget details came alongside the shock announcement that the White House has withdrawn entrepreneur Jared Isaacman at its nominee to lead NASA.
Isaacman’s nomination caused mixed reactions when first announced. Whilst the majority were positive, there were also concerns over his ties to the SpaceX CEO, and the latter’s views on NASA’s future direction. During his Senate confirmation hearings, Isaacman handled the latter concerns directly, and indicated his own opposition to some of the proposals in the Trump NASA 2026 budget. As such, it was widely anticipated the Senate would confirm his appointment on June 3rd, 2025.
Jared Isaacman during his Senate confirmation hearing. Credit: Associated Press
No reason has been given by the White House for withdrawing his nomination. Some have speculated it is as a result of the recent rift between the President and the SpaceX CEO, with whom Isaacman has a strong association. Also, Isaacman’s confirmation hearing also revealed he has been a past financial supporter of the Democratic Party – something hardly likely to endear him to the White House incumbent. In a statement on the withdrawal, White House assistant press secretary Liz Houston would only say:
The Administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trump’s bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars. It’s essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump’s America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon.
Again, the emphasis on Mars here is loud enough to be almost deafening – and in line with the goals of the SpaceX CEO. This is not to say the the latter will now be the likely pick to head-up NASA; it is highly unlikely he would survive Senate hearings even if nominated. However, it does perhaps indicate his push for having NASA effectively abandon the International Space Station and the Artemis programme in favour of Mars have been taken to heart by a President who is all about being “first” in everything.
Thus far, all of the Trump administration proposals for NASA’s budget have been met with widespread condemnation from the aerospace, science and educations sectors in the US. Many are hoping that Congress will stop this tear-down of NASA dead in its tracks when the budget comes before the Capitol later in the year. As to Isaacman being removed as nominee, this has been received with dismay and upset within the US space industry, and leaves NASA in a continuing state of limbo.
Starship IFT9: Up and Bang Again1
On Tuesday May 27th, 2025, SpaceX once again attempted to carry out their 9th integrated flight test (IFT-9) of their Starship / Super Heavy combination in the hope of getting the former into sub-orbital space to carry out a series of tests, and use the latter as a test article during its descent back to the Gulf of Mexico. As such, the flight had a number of distinct goals for both the booster and the starship vehicle.
Booster (√ = success; Χ = failure):
Re-fly a Super Heavy for the first time – the unit used in the January 2025 test article flight (with just 4 of its 33 Raptor 2 motors replaced) (√).
Attempt a new “rollover” manoeuvre after starship separation (√).
Test a new high angle of attack re-entry into the lower atmosphere in an attempt to use atmospheric drag to reduce velocity and reduce the need to carry propellants for propulsive braking (Χ).
Carry out an updated engine braking burn (Χ).
Splash-down in the Gulf of Mexico (Χ).
Starship (√ = success; Χ = failure):
Reach a sub-orbital trajectory (√).
Deploy a set of 8 Starlink satellite simulators, testing the payload bay slot in the process (Χ).
Carry out the re-start of a sea-level Raptor engine to test de-orbit burn capabilities (Χ).
Make a successful re-entry into the atmosphere and test updates made to the thermal protection system and to hopefully reduce burn-through on the fore-and-aft aerodynamic flaps (Χ).
Splash-down in the Indian Ocean (Χ).
SpaceX IFT-9: lift-off of the Starship / Super Heavy combination, Boca Chica, Texas, 23:37 UTC (19:37 local time). Credit: SpaceX
Lift-off was at 23:37 UTC, from the SpaceX Starbase City facilities in Texas, and proceeded to a successful staging. The booster then performed its intended roll-over and carried out a good boost-back burn. It was lost 6 minutes 20 seconds after launch, as 13 of the engines were due to fire at the start of their braking burn.
The starship vehicle continued on to its sub-orbital trajectory and successfully shut-down its motors. The deployment of the payload simulators was due at 18 minutes into the flight, but was abandoned when the deployment slot door again failed. By 30 minutes into the flight the vehicle was pitching / rolling wildly, and SpaceX confirmed they had lost all attitude control, likely the result of a propellant system leak. The vehicle subsequently made an uncontrolled re-entry over the Indian Ocean 46 minutes after launch and largely burned-up.
With the six engines of the starship vehicle burning brightly “beneath” it (actually at a higher altitude), and with its own three steerable motors firing, the Super Heavy booster is seen entering its new “roll-over” manoeuvre, aligning itself for its boost-back burn of 13 motors. Credit: SpaceX
Whilst subject to confirmation, the propellant leak potentially hints at a vulnerability in the starship design. Most space vehicles utilise hypergolic thrusters for attitude control and fine manoeuvring. Independent of the main propulsion system, these avoid the need for complicated propellant bumps, etc.. However, the propellants are high toxic, and such systems do add mass to a vehicle. By contrast, SpaceX effectively pumps boil-off gases from the main propellant tanks around the vehicle to so-called “cold thrusters” and their own small tanks. Doing so removes the need for the majority of the mass (and engineering space) used by hypergolic thruster systems and avoids the complications of handling toxic materials during vehicle refurbishment between flights. However, the plumbing used to deliver the gases around Starship and Super Heavy is all interconnected; thus – and possibly as demonstrated with IFT-9 – there is a risk of a single leak impacting multiple attitude control thrusters.
Both the booster and the starship came down within their designated hazard zones; however, the flight will be subject to an FAA-required mishap investigation.
With apologies to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien and Bilbo Baggins, Esq., formerly of The Shire
Luna Sea, May 2025 – click any image for full size
Yoyo Collas – he of Borkum fame (which I last covered at the start of the year) – is now back with a new Homestead region design in the form of the rugged, mysterious islands of Luna Sea, assisted in his work this time by AmyDenise.
These low-lying islands, sitting under a misted sky marked by a recently-risen Sun, are home to a plethora of wildlife, and form an interesting and interconnected trio. Between them they are rich in detail, colour and opportunities for exploration, relaxation and photography.
Luna Sea, May 2025
The Landing Point sits on the largest of the three islands, a long finger of west-pointing rock where hardy grass, shrubs and a few headstrong trees with their back bent as if twisted by ocean winds over the years, have gained a toe-hold.
The ground gives the suggestion of a possible volcanic origin, which together with some of the mammals present – notably the walrus and grey seals – suggesting the islands could be a remote part of the High Arctic Large Igneous Province; not that anywhere in SL has to be based or inspired on any actual physical world location, this is just a game I like to play in the hope of additional sparking imaginations. A colony of eared seals has also come ashore close by the Landing Point, further suggesting a north Atlantic vibe to the islands (although eared seals can in fairness be found the world over).
Luna Sea, May 2025
This island is dominated by three structures. Two are built out over the waters between it and the southern island, and the third –and largest – raises itself over the island’s high point on study legs – although “high point” is here a relative term, it being little more that a hump of rock at towards the island’s eastern end and sitting just a little above the island’s general elevation.
Reached via stairs leading up to a central covered deck, this large unit forms a comfortable home sturdily built in steel and wood, the decks available on three sides offering commanding views to the west, north and east. It does not appear to be a private residence, but open for visitors to enjoy, the décor perfectly put together by AmyDenise.
Luna Sea, May 2025
The two buildings built out over the water share a common deck. They stand as a pair of artist’s studios and the local café offering refreshments on the seaward part of their shared deck; just be prepared to share your nibbles with the local kitties! This deck also offers sheltered moorings for boats visiting the island. In addition, a large fishing trawler sits alongside, whilst pedal boats are tied-up below one of the studio units. Access to the majority of these moorings from the eastern ends of the island is prevented courtesy of the pier bridge connecting to the second largest island – although this pier can (and does) also offer places where boats can be brought alongside and moored.
Roughly half the size of the main island, the second isle is more of a bump of granite shingle rising from the surrounding waters. Again, shrubs and grass cling to it, together with a single tree. However, its most striking feature takes the form of two large huts.
Luna Sea, May 2025
These look as if some giant hand has taken the hull of a wooden ship and planted it keel-side up on the island, before using a cleaver to slice it neatly into two halves, then moving them apart. They are set as a surfer’s retreat and workshop, and thus suggest a further geographical influence for (and mystery to) these islands. A further geographical mix is added by the presence of several giant turtles, monitor lizards and red-crowned crane (whose height strongly suggests they will brook no argument from mere humans!).
The third island lies to the north side of the region, barely off the coast of the main island. So close, in fact, it is connected by a short, low wooden bridge passing over a narrow neck of shallow wetland, suggesting that it one time the two were once a singular landmass. Further shallows lie to the west, extending both to the main island and out to where a trio of massive wind turbines stand as sentinels watching over the setting. With nets staked out across their length and breadth ready to herd fish into their various traps, the nets have become a feeding ground for egrets, seagulls and heron.
Luna Sea, May 2025
Largely comprising igneous shingle, this smallest of the three islands has a single blunt thumb of a thumb-tip of rock poking upwards, capped by the most extraordinary structure. Resembling a recently-landed space vehicle, it is reached via step hammered into the rock on which it stands, its upper level marked by four large, leaf-like hatchways folded back to reveal its interior. Here can be found a celebration of the island’s most mysterious inhabitant, and the one which perhaps brings visitors to the islands’ shores: actias luna, the luna moth (aka the American moon moth).
A mysterious silence reigns on a remote, mist-shrouded island of black sand and jagged rocks. Sharp cliffs rise from the sea like ancient sentinels, and strange, silvery plants grow among glittering lava rocks. This is where the Luna Moth lives—a rare, luminous creature with moon-coloured wings that only appears at night. Its silent flight seems to pierce time and space, as if guarding the dreams of the island itself.
– Yoyo Collas’ description of Luna Sea
Luna Sea, May 2025
This is not the only place these North American moths might be found; at least one pair are hiding in plain sight on one of the islands. However, I’ll leave it to you to find them and the little family of meerkats which has also made the islands its home 🙂 .
Beautifully conceived and executed, Luna Sea is a highly rewarding visit – so do be sure to hop over and explore!
The Annex, Nitroglobus Roof Gallery, May 2025: YO – Love is a Stranger
Having opened on May 12th, 2025 for a (roughly) two-month run, Love is a Stranger is an evocative exhibition of black and white photography by – YO – (yoasa) being hosted by Dido Haas within the Annex of Nitroglobus Roof Gallery. Dido notes that the first time she came across YO’s work, she was immediately drawn to it, such was the emotive – almost physical – strength with the images. Given this is also my first exposure to YO’s work, I can understand why she felt so drawn; working in monochrome brings a depth of raw humanity to their work, carrying within it a persistence of passion that is enthralling.
Colour brings joy to the eyes – but black & white reaches the heart.
Yo(asa)
The title of the the exhibition – which features eighteen marvellously composed and processed pieces – is taken from the song of the same name by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, aka Eurythmics, and which formed the opening track of their second album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).
The Annex, Nitroglobus Roof Gallery, May 2025: YO – Love is a Stranger
The lyrics, penned by Lennox, sought encapsulate the dichotomic relationship of love and hatred – so often two sides of the same coin – by putting opposites together, expressing how one can lift you up, lead you forward, whilst the other is just awaiting the opportunity to cut you down through doubt, confusion, and more; and where one can be so glamourous and appealing, with the other lurking just beneath with cruelty and unkindness; the promise of both, when taken together, equally rich and false.
To be honest, with one or two exceptions, I did not see many parallels between Lennox’s intent and the images YO presents – and if they are present, the failure to see them is purely mine, and not that of the artist. What I did find, however, are images that are simply breath-taking in their emotive depth and resonance; pieces beautifully focused and framed as an ode to the fickleness of love itself.
The Annex, Nitroglobus Roof Gallery, May 2025: YO – Love is a Stranger
Each picture is a masterpiece of visual storytelling, conveying a richness of desire, loneliness, loss, need, innocence, uncertainty. These are all emotions common to love. We all want to be loved, to be in love, and feel the same in return: to feel wanted cherished, desired. Yet love itself is mercurial; even in the midst of all the the sense of fulfilment, of finding that desire and cherishment in the eyes and arms of another, so too can it all too easily give forth doubts, take away the comfort as easily as it provides. It can turn thoughts of certainty and contentment into those of incertitude, and feelings of warmth to those of uncertainty.
Thus, we become alone in thought and trapped contradictions, literally and figuratively wandering; driven, perhaps to feel the very world around us is alien or as if the feelings that at first lifted us, made us feel a part of something so easily turn to feel apart from everything; standing outside and looking in. We have discovered that love itself has turned from welcoming friend to a complete stranger.
The Annex, Nitroglobus Roof Gallery, May 2025: YO – Love is a Stranger
All of this is conveyed within YO’s images, and quite powerfully and evocatively so. It is, in short: an absolutely exquisite collection.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 