Merry Christmas!

Oh Christmas Tree

Just one more week until Christmas and what a great time for my 100th blog post! That fantastic light at the top of the tree isn't an ultra bright light bulb, it's actually the moon! It was so bright and full that it looks like the Christmas star when it's lined up just right!

Magical Christmas Hall

Longwoods Gardens turns into a remarkable Christmas display this time of year. They have half a million lights! If that doesn't say Christmas magic, I don't know what does! This is just one of the huge halls in the enormous conservatory greenmansion (not greenhouse)!

Streaming Sparks

It's been too long since I've posted a new photo. Life has just been crazy! I finally have a few minutes to throw down this fun long exposure of a great bonfire!

Crossing Bridges

Framework for Flight

Fallen Over

Budding Green

Orange and Pink

I'm not sure if you'd call this color orange or pink, but whichever it is, there's a lot of it!

Storm Clouds Rolling In

In the Hills of Hawaii

The Wandering Stream

Are You Lost?

Recognize this waterfall?

Backyard Bee

Trying to think of titles for my blog posts can sometimes be interesting. Usually the first thing that comes to my mind makes the cut, but tonight I've been studying too much anatomy and I almost titled this post, Transverse Bee, because of its transverse orientation. Oh, anatomy.

Sunset Pine

This is one of the first HDR's I ever took. It's really hard to shoot into the sun without the HDR technique because of too much backlighting.

Modern Industrial Art or Window Shutters?

Corrugated tin seems to be the universal building material in Nicaragua, whether it's used for roofs, walls, or window shutters.

A Wisconsin Sunset

And the weekend comes to an end.

Cat Eyes: Digitally Remastered

Just like Star Wars, this photo has been re-enhanced since I last posted it. What's the big deal? Compare it to the original to see the difference for yourself!

Notice the revamped version above is a little brighter, a lot sharper, and cropped differently.

Paddle Boarding

When we were in Hawaii last February, we walked out of our hotel to this world paddle boarding exhibition taking place right outside. Present were some of the world champions. I don't remember who this one is, but I was able to snap this cool shot of him and his board.

Hawaiian Sunset

Relaxing at the Zoo

Mini Geyser

Mirrored Shore

A Bit of Snow

It's 49 degrees here in Philadelphia. I feel like a little snow might be appropriate.

White Hot

Piping hot water flows from a yellowstone hot spring through this little stream. The different bands of color are created by different kinds of organisms that survive in specific temperatures. The center of the stream is so hot that nothing can live there and it's bleached white by chemicals in the water.

Lower Falls

Chance

In memory of my dog, Chance. He passed away one year ago.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Surface Tension

Fire!

Wood Burning Stove

Sunset Ripples

Peach Picking

Mountain Waterfall

Surf Meets Sand

Cauldron Linn

Constitution Day

I meant to post this photo a couple days ago, because it was Constitution Day! This room is where the Continental Congress met, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and where the US Constitution was signed over 220 years ago here in Philadelphia! The chair in the front is the actual one that George Washington sat in! Aside from crazy people, Philadelphia is a cool city with a great history!

Band of Stars

The Milky Way galaxy seems like it's so far away when you see its band in the sky, but we're right in the thick of it! Something to think about.

Ceiling of Green

Cool tree. 'Nuff said.

Golden Meadow

Zion National Park is well known for its scenic drives and intense hikes through beautiful deep canyons, but this is what it looks like from high ground! The scenery is just as picturesque!

Ivory Keys

This is one of the first photos I'd ever taken with my old Canon Rebel XTi. That great camera was my first dSLR, and Alisha has now inherited it from me! I now sport the Canon 7D, which is a little more powerful. One of these days I'll add a "What's in My Bag" page to this blog. That might be fun. I'm not very skilled at the piano, but my brother, Aaron, is really good. I do enjoy listening to piano concertos and sonatas, though.

Lost Waterfall

Anyone seen the Lost TV series? Then you might recognize this waterfall because it's in a few scenes! Cool huh? When I was there I hadn't seen the series yet. Three months later, all seasons watched. I wouldn't do it again, but they really have a way of getting you hooked on the storyline. This waterfall is situated at the end of a long but really beautiful walk through a tropical botanical garden with sections dedicated to different Pacific islands.

Strange Rocks

These rock formations remind me of something that would appear in a star wars movie with sand people hiding in the shadows. Actually, these rocks are in Arches Nat. Park, the same place where I took this photo of the Delicate Arch and this photo of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Growing Real Estate

I took this shot from a helicopter! That's right, a helicopter! Coolest experience of my life. Not only did I see LAVA for the first time, but also active volcano craters, a mother and baby humpback whale, and thousand foot waterfalls! So amazing.

Ladybug's 12

Ladybug's 20 would be a more appropriate title, but then you wouldn't get that song stuck in your head. It's been a long time since I've taken a macro shot, but this ladybug and her eggs provided me the opportunity last weekend when we went peach picking.

Door to Friendship

This is a door handle to the ceremonial gates in San Diego's Japanese Friendship Garden. Well, to be honest, I'm not sure if it's a door handle or a door knocker. It looks more like a knocker, but there were two of them at door handle level, so probably a handle. Or maybe a door pull? Alisha and I were there just over three years ago for our honeymoon trip. It's hard to believe it's been three years already!

Reflecting Aspens

If you follow my blog, you probably know that I like trees. Well, trees reflecting off of mountain ponds are even better! Spring had just arrived and these aspens were barely beginning to sprout leaves. Just before I took this shot we had startled a few deer. They leaped right over our path and I think they jumped 6 feet in the air! As a side note, this shot was supposed to be an HDR, but my camera's battery died just after the first exposure. Turned out well in the end anyway!

Pinecone

It's great to zoom in on small things like pinecones because little details are revealed that I wouldn't normally notice. My eyesight is mostly good, but I have a hard time seeing details. When I look at a tree, I mostly just see a blur of green, put on my glasses and I can see individual leaves. Anyhow, I don't really ever wear my glasses unless I'm in a lecture, so photography like this helps me see what I otherwise wouldn't.

Stripes

I like zoos. I know they are cool places for kids, but it's a lot of fun to photograph animals from all over the world with a telephoto lens zoomed in at 400mm! You kinda feel like you're on some kind of wild safari!