Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! (Again!)

Most of you have seen my original post bearing the same title. However, this time around, there are lions and bears in addition to tigers! There are also elephants, rainbow lorikeets, and a few more animals.

As you can probably imagine, I LOVE animals. I could spend days upon days at zoos, wildlife preserves, aquariums, you name it. I don’t ever get tired of watching animals doing their thing, whether it’s in their own natural habitat or in a place that makes it a bit easier for the “everyday folk” to see them. I hope you enjoy this collection of animals from Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC, because I sure did!

An African Lion and his lioness.

A Siberian Tiger lets us know he’s hungry.

He looks so cuddly…

A shy pink flamingo sneaks a peek at the photographer.

A sleepy koala bear.

An African Elephant fans its ears.

Two rainbow lorikeets engage in battle.

As always, I love comments and feedback, so feel free to say hello!

Curious Giraffe – A Riverbanks Zoo Preview

I spent Tuesday at Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, SC. The weather, while bordering on becoming quite hot, was kept pleasant by a lovely breeze for the majority of the day. That weather also meant that most of the animals seemed to pose for the camera instead of hiding out in the shade all day! Of all the animals we saw, the giraffes were among the most fun to photograph.

Curious Giraffe – A baby giraffe at Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, SC.

This adorable giraffe was about 8-10 feet tall, unlike his adult counterparts who stood about 18-20 feet tall. We were able to feed him and several adult giraffes from a platform, but he was so curious and eager that he just completely won me over as my favorite!

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, I love feedback and comments! 

 

Butterflies and Cone Flowers

There aren’t many things that say “Spring” to me better than flowers. Lots and lots of flowers. Add a few butterflies, and I’m a happy girl. I can easily tell you that when it comes to most things in life (driving especially) I’m the world’s most impatient person. But anybody who knows me will tell you that I will sit quietly and patiently for photography. I’ll follow a butterfly around a garden for hours, just hoping to get “the shot”. I’ll wait until the clouds pass, the wind stops blowing, and the light is just right. That’s not to say I’m not happily snapping images while I wait, oh no. I’m one of those “take-a-million-pictures-and-hope-one-turns-out” kind of girls. That’s the beauty of the digital age, I can do that. If I still had to shoot with film alone, I think I’d be in trouble.

Anyway, before I ramble on about the differences between film and digital photography (I should mention that I still LOVE film, it’s just not cost-effective for me at this point), I’ll get to today’s images. In keeping with the theme of yesterday’s post, today I bring you a set of butterflies and cone flowers; my idea of true spring.

"Petals and Wings" - A Monarch Butterfly perches atop a Cone Flower in Dexter, NY.

"Today, a Butterfly" - A Monarch Butterfly in a sea of Cone Flowers in Dexter, NY.

"Searching for Nectar" - A Monarch Butterfly in Dexter, NY.

 

I shot these pictures in Dexter, NY, a town about 10 miles outside of Watertown in a region lovingly referred to as the “North Country.” It’s an area that is gorgeous during the warm summer months, way too cold in the winter for this Southern girl, but beautifully picturesque all year long.

Thanks for stopping by today! As always, comments and feedback are always appreciated. Don’t be shy!

Happy Spring!

Today marks the vernal equinox, a day that has equal parts day and night. It’s particularly exciting for most of us as it means warmer weather (although we’ve had fantastic weather lately), longer daylight hours (no more going to work in the dark!) and beautiful scenes all around us as the flowers begin blooming and the trees regain their green foliage.

A Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly at the National Zoo in Washington, DC.

Today I bring you one of my favorite springtime images. This was taken on the first day I got to “play with” my first DSLR several years ago. Many of you have had professional-quality cameras for quite some time, but I’ve only been using one for about 4 years. In fact, it’s still the camera I use to this day. Yes, I know, it’s time to upgrade. Nevertheless, this image remains a favorite. For me, I love the bright colors and the peaceful mood. It makes me smile every time I see it. Hopefully it will make you smile as well!

Merry Christmas!

This gallery contains 12 photos.

Yes, I realize Christmas was a few weeks ago. That being said, I also realized that in all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I never got around to posting my Christmas photo shoot with adorable baby Rowan! You … Continue reading →

Happy Winter!

As most of you know, today marks the Winter Solstice, aka the shortest day, aka the first day of winter. To celebrate the shortest day, this will be a short post!

Quite simply, I want to wish you all a winter with warmer temperatures, not as much snow, and plenty of sunshine to warm your soul. Also, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus and a Cheerful Whateverotherholidayyoucelebrate!

Winter Cardinal

Autumn has Arrived

I’m alive! I’m sure some of you (perhaps somebody? anybody??) were wondering where I’d gone to and what had happened to me. Plain and simple, I got busy. For much of the summer, I was working two jobs, barely getting a day off, and unfortunately neither of those jobs related to my own photography! Then the season of weddings came. The hubs and I have been to places like Minnesota and Virginia, as well as just 2 hours up the road to Pawleys Island for these weddings. Needless to say, we’re happy to be home for awhile!

What this all boils down to is this: I’m back in the saddle again, and ready to rock!

Autumn in Charleston is a bit different than what most of the country experiences. For one, the chilly, crisp air doesn’t typically arrive until October or November while most folks start feeling it in September. Secondly, our raking season typically involves more pine needles than it does actual leaves. However, South Carolina does have some pretty spectacular places to see autumn’s true colors.

Table Rock State Park is an excellent area to see vibrant foliage. It’s less than a 4-hour drive from Charleston, and features several wonderful hiking trails. I had the opportunity to set up camp (literally!) in Table Rock during Veteran’s Day weekend 2007. We spent our 3 days hiking, making camp fires, and just soaking up the tranquility that camping allows. The following images are a few favorites from that trip. I hope that you enjoy them, and as always, feedback is appreciated!

Vibrant Autumn Foliage - Table Rock State Park, 2007

Foliage Reflection - Table Rock State Park, 2007

Quiet Autumn Path - Table Rock State Park, 2007

Autumn Stream - Table Rock State Park, 2007

Table Rock State Park, 2007