I've been messing around in Florida and the Keys a bit lately. The colours and light there show up brilliantly in MSFS (although I'm not sure that Orbx's True Earth with XP is not still my favourite version of the Keys), even if some of the PG is a little off in places. I also spotted a bit of scenery on flightsim.to called "Illuminati Island" (https://flightsim.to/file/73700/tight-lz-s-illuminati-base ) which is a complete fantasy setup on one of the real Keys in the Dry Tortugas national park, Loggerhead Key. In real life, there is a lighthouse there and that's about it, but this scenery is really quite spectacular, if a little weird in places (more on that in a minute).

Now, I'm not a big fan of conspiracy theories, arcane "knowledge" societies, grassy knoll believers and all that stuff. I have my own opinions about some of that but mostly I'm quite zen about it all, my overall position is probably best summed up as "who cares, anyway" (it either happened or it didn't), and my level of interest, and therefore knowlege, of most of that stuff has long since receded into the past. So I've no idea what the current "buzz", if any, is regarding the Illuminati thing. For all I know it may be the current big thing in the world of comix/manga/yoof culture etc, but it does mean that I've no idea what, if any, relevance the various things going on in this scenery have to the current perception of the Illuminati. If you are interested in that, Wiki has an entry of course - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati, and they also have a bit of info about the Dry Tortugas generally which is worth a read if like me, you knew little about them - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Tortugas_National_Park.

The brief description that came with the freeware package mentions the production of some sort of chemicals and also the production and shipping of clones! Both these things, along with some other weird stuff, are reproduced in the scenery, and I have included a couple of shots that are clone related, just because they look like fun and are very well done, but my main thing about this scenery package is that I just think it is so well done and creates a truly gorgeous little fantasy island. Illuminati, Schmilluminati, pah.

The Dry Tortugas also have a real life version of a fantasy island in Fort Jefferson, on Garden Key. I'll put up a post of some shots of that after I've done this lot.

In the meantime, ignore the "mystery" and enjoy the sunny delights of Illuminati Island!

It's a nice looking little getaway!

I did say "weird", yes?

And this guy is animated, like a lot of the characters here, and certainly puts it away if you watch him for a few minutes!

Sign in on arrival, please

Sounds a bit sad, but I can sit in front of my big HDR screen and just stare at an image like this for a long time. Waves lapping, sound of the sea and the birds. Very meditative.

But there's always some *hole with a phone to spoil it!

Like I said, I've no real idea about the symbolism of the Illuminati, but some of this stuff has a vaguely Masonic air about it.

Although what Che is doing here, I've no idea

Ah yes, the final testing of the clone production process

Again, not sure if this is supposed to be "significant", but you gotta admit it makes a fine landscape feature. Wouldn't mind one in my garden.

This, I guess, is the clone main production plant

And here's a batch waiting to be transported out for shipping. I have to say I'm slightly offended that the clones are all white bearded old guys. We have feelings too, you know!

So there you go, a brief look into one person's imagination, and no matter how you might feel about the concept, I have to say I think it's beautifully done.

Edited May 14, 20242 yr by andy1252
typo

Wonderful set Andy! 😉 

Nice pictorial change-up, served up with just the right amount of humor (and the necessary disclaimer)!!

Edited May 14, 20242 yr by John F

Very nice set buddy !

cheers 😉

Stunningly beautiful pictures...look like photographs...!

On 5/14/2024 at 5:54 PM, Alaska738 said:

Wonderful set Andy! 😉 

Cheers Will!

On 5/14/2024 at 7:22 PM, John F said:

Nice pictorial change-up, served up with just the right amount of humor (and the necessary disclaimer)!!

Thanks John, and much as I have been known to enjoy stuff like the Da Vinci code, Holy Blood/Grail etc, I can't take any of it seriously. But then, if I told you what I really know, I'd have to kill you <grin>

On 5/15/2024 at 7:04 AM, pmplayer said:

Very nice set buddy !

cheers 😉

Thanks pmplayer!

1 hour ago, P_7878 said:

Stunningly beautiful pictures...look like photographs...!

Cheers P-7878! I have to say that this is some of the best scenery of its type that I've ever seen, plus of course the light in the Keys is amazing and very well done in the sim.

What a great selection of unusual shots, Andy! I was going through them two times, while sipping on a cup of tea. Excellent, both, your screenies and my tea. 🙂