Salute to a solitary Slug.
Macrophoto of a marvelous Mollusk.
Slipping past slowly Saturday.
There aren't many things I like about getting up super early in the morning but this...this makes it worth it.
There's something truly special about when the clouds hide all signs of civilization and all you can see is the mountain.
More summer break casual photography.
This is another one of the Blue Heron (A. h. fannini Chapman) I saw on Whidbey Island. Apparently there are 5 species of Blue Heron and the PNW has one that's unique with it's territory extending from Washington up to Alaska along the coastline.
Schools out so youth sports are pretty much out too.
I did make a trip up to Whidbey Island a few weeks back. Despite my sprained ankle I managed to walk out to a beach and get some photos. This Blue Heron was posing for me.
Arches National Park. This place is the epitome of Western Movies. Simply amazing natural architecture.
It's softball season!!
It was snowing on the mountains in Utah.
The hoodoos at Bryce. It’s a pretty cool park but there was still quite a bit of snow so the trails and many of the viewpoints were still closed. The park is over 8,000 feet. We’ll need to come back later in the season.
Gorgeous falls at the upper end of the valley in Zion.
Zion - The cliffs in this place are somehow more imposing than Yosemite. They’re like walls that don’t end and on both sides of you a thousand feet tall.
Petrified log at Valley of Fire. They have a bunch of these. Fossilized trees are actually quite common all over the SW United States.
Valley of Fire - Nevada State Park
This place has to be seen to be believed. The landscapes are so alien. The scenery and views rival any National Park. You definitely need to see this place.
The Faux Eiffel
Super cute baby dolphin.
This is the salt flat at Death Valley. We’re about 300ft below sea level here. The snow capped mountain in the distance is about 10,000ft.
There was a bit of a sandstorm going on the way into Death Valley. The winds have been blowing around 30mph and gusts to 40-50 for the past day and a half here around Las Vegas.
The view from the motel was pretty nice.
We stayed at a motel on Route 66.
I employed my daughter to get a photo of myself.
Grand Canyon National Park. It’s bigger then you can imagine. It’s so big it seems unreal at times.
Goosenecks State Park. This is actually connected to the Grand Canyon but just outside the park. The river bends back on itself three times.
Monument Valley. Just like you have seen in dozens of movies.
This is the first large valley at Arches National Park after you enter.
Arches National Park. The sandstone formations are beyond imagination.
Double Arch at Arches.
I caught her mid whine about some scrape she had. It made a good photo.
Did I mention they look quite realistic.
You can stand and touch some of the models.
This is at Moab Giants. It’s a roadside attraction near Arches. It’s not your typical roadside attraction. It has a really good scientific museum and the dinosaurs models are the best I’ve ever seen.
Bingham copper mine Utah. Enormous open pit mine. It’s the most productive Cooper mine in the world.
Tire from a dump truck at the mine.
Shovel at Bingham copper mine.
Leading the charge.
Girls Basketball Puyallup Youth Sports.
Girls Basketball Puyallup Youth Sports.
Up close and personal with a large Orangutan at Woodland Park Zoo.
First Baseball Practice. Ever.
Macaque monkey at Woodland Park Zoo. They’re quite loud.
I think the flower photos are working. We’re suppose to have almost 70 degree weather next week. It was trying to snow last week. If this photo can’t push spring over the edge there’s no hope.
Willing Spring to come one flower photo at a time.
Don’t just take the time to smell the roses but also look at them in detail.
Some fish swim with the school and some don’t. Which do you prefer?
The divers at Seattle Aquarium are definitely as much a part of the show as the marine life is.
So alien looking but and beautiful.
Jellyfish Moon Reflection
This is a batch of photos I took during the Lunar Eclipse January 2019. It was very cloudy and cold. I was lucky to get the photos I did.
Yosemite National Park - Bridal Veil Falls
Another photo of one of the baby Rhinos at Woodland Park Zoo
Big Four Ice Caves Sunny Mountain Meadow
Chimpanzees are difficult to see in capability. However I feel it’s necessary for people to interact with animals in order to understand them and feel for them to promote wildlife conservation.
The Thinker
Warm and inviting and full of potential. Like a fresh new New Year.
Beautiful Peacocks make terrifying alarm clocks.
Something a little different. I was going through my photos from this past year and came across some favorites I hadn’t shared. This is one I took at the California Academy of Sciences.
Alligator skull at the California Academy of Sciences
Penguin Sun Soak
Baby tanks are super cute
Focused and ready
They were picking out certain leaves to eat.
In the right setting even the ugly duckling would have been beautiful.
The eyes have it. Peace in the eyes of an apex predator.
How long do I have to hold still for this?
I’m tired okay?
Gobble Gobble
Strutting
You lookin’ at me? You better not be lookin’ at me.
Fall rains and darker weather bring out the mushrooms. It’s a beautiful part of the decomposition process.
I see you.....
I’m soooo tired....
My favorite flower
A quiet misty morning.
The leaves are nearly gone but the golden memories remain.
I see you. Are you food? Do you have food?
Oh so mean.. Not really, just the end of a yawn.
Another happy and cute wild cotton tail.
Some more fall colors. Nice morning walk through the leaves and under the leaves.
This weekend I had the opportunity to take some impromptu portraits at a city organized Halloween Trick or Treat event. We were walking towards the event and on the way there I was checking the camera and making adjustments. I really like the lighting and and colors.
A beautiful sheet web spider web. This family of spiders make some of the most diverse styles of webs from simple sheets often seen in the grass to domes like these. It was a a very foggy morning and the dew made the webs stand out everywhere. It made for a beautiful fall morning walk.
An understated fall color photo.
Fall is Wooly Bear season. This was a little guy. Less than an inch.
Lily Pad Reflection
Morning Cattail (Bulrush)
Mother and Grandmother watching the VR painting demo at Pacific Science Center.
Longer exposure showing some motion for a VR demo at Pacific Science Center.
Watching the Salmon run at the Ballard Locks
Painting in VR at Pacific Science Center
European Cross Orb Weaver at Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens
I know a lot of people aren’t fond of spiders but there are many varieties that are completely harmless to humans and in fact don’t even like being indoors. This is one of those. It’s a European Cross Orb Weaver. They are a non-native here in the PNW but not invasive. They’re extremely good at catching the annoying flying insects. A while back my daughter had one of these spiders as a pet for most of a year.
Salmon going through the Ballard Locks
Tiny flowers at the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden
No hiding this big guy in the grass.
A really big frog. Bigger then my open hand.
Race winner
Eye spy with my little eye......
European Red Slug at West Hylebos Wetlands. Lots of these guys early in the morning sliming along the paths.
Rabbit watching at West Hylebos Wetlands
Slug watching at West Hylebos Wetlands
The rabbits are everywhere early in the morning.
Saya trying out some VR at Pacific Science Center.
A great photo from the WMRRA races at Pacific Raceway Sept 09th
My friend Paul racing with WMRRA at Pacific Raceways Sept. 09th
This was on the road east out of the California Central Valley towards Yosemite. From this view you would never guess the wonders hidden just over those hills. There are multiple limestone caves and the biggest trees in the world not to mention the glorious Yosemite Valley.
Taken from a moving car in northern California late in the evening. The hills fading into the distance were quite a site.
Taking photographs of animals can be largely opportunistic requiring good timing some fore planning (knowing some animal behavior), and bit of luck thrown in. This bunny was very photogenic and had a beautiful meadow all to his own at the Oakland Zoo. If you would like portraits of your pets I love animals and would love to meet your multi species family members.
Bird of Paradise flowers. For most of us that have grown up in the Northern climates these flowers are every bit as bizarre looking as they are beautiful. Throw in some palms and you definitely get an exotic feel to an image.
If you've never had the opportunity to watch apes (Chimps, Gorillas, Orangutans, other non-tailed primates) I highly recommend taking the time to do so. No other animals so closely remind you of people. These two Chimpanzees at the Oakland Zoo reminded us of two old guys sitting on a porch just shooting the breeze and eating a snack.
Yosemite was a site to see this Spring. We got there just two days after they had record rains and flooding. Thankfully the flood waters had receded and the sun was out. This place is spiritual in it's grandness. If you have the opportunity to go don't pass it by. Regardless of the weather this place is awe inspiring.
I'm not afraid to admit I'm ignorant to the person/being represented in this statue. The flower placement was beautiful and so was the statue.
We were fortunate enough to get some warmer weather this Spring and took the opportunity to sit around one of our favorite places in Seattle. This is the fountain at Seattle Center. Here you can see one of the favorite games people play at the fountain trying to dodge the somewhat random water show. He wasn't doing a very good job of it. That probably wasn't by accident though.
So happy the tongue is sticking out. Hard to beat that.
Flying on the swing.
Where did you go?
Pacific Eider. Beautiful bird with a s strange bill.
Beatiful blue eyed bird. Saya said it looked like it had makeup on. It looks similar to a Grouse.
Nice Toucan. Some of us may like to call them Tookie Tookie Birds. Let me know if you're one of them.
Beautiful bird. Red Capped Cardinal.
Never forget humans aren't the only ones that find it hard to get along sometimes. This was a very grumpy crane. He was even trying to jump up and get crows flying over.
I'd love to get a full photo of this Leopard but it's hard behind glass. Sometimes you just start working with what you have and end up with something that I think might be even better.
Animals caught at the right moment can look like they were posing for you. This is a Maned Wolf. Very beautiful canine.
He looks grumpy or serious but he was anything but. He's very comfortable around people getting within a couple feet making him an easy target for some nice photos. Red Breasted Goose.
This pair of White Naped Cranes were an inseparable pair. They went everywhere together frequently mirroring each other like twins. Very beautiful.
Shillshole Bay Seattle. Sun was turning golden well before sunset and made for a nice view of the Olympics in the distance and a nice end to a fun day.
Beautiful old typewriter at Mohai
Space Needle
The Space Needle is currently being remodeled. Once done the viewing deck will be all glass.
Close up of Dahlia
Playing with a new lens. My favorite portrait type is close ups on faces. People rarely actually look at other peoples face and especially animal faces close up and in detail. There's a lot of hidden beauty in a face when seen up close.
Close up of Dahlia
Christmas Eve Snow
Soft Winter wonderland in the country