Mike's Other Pixtures #101

It's almost as if .... we were playing hide and seek.

From the shady end of the Flamingo pond .... there are some good pixtures to be had on a sunny day.

But the foliage is dense enough that you have to time the shot .... if you want the eye.

And photographers always want the eye.

Somehow, this guy knew that .... and seemed to delight in moving just enough so that the branch was right where I didn't want it to be.

I would get the camera up and get focused .... thinking just one more step and I'll shoot.

Then wait and wait and wait .... then just as I took the camera down, he would step.

Mike's Other Pixtures #100

On this day .... he was sitting right next to the glass.

Which makes for about as good a pixture as I might get of this guy.

The glass is of course a problem from the photographers perspective .... but a necessity for him to live in our world.

Some number of years ago, I was doing my pixture thing .... when something I did offended the gorilla I was photographing.

He charged and threw himself against the glass .... scaring the poop out of me. 

I have no idea what I did to cause offense.

But I have been quite thankful for the glass ever since.

Mike's Other Pixtures #99

Even something as ordinary as a pine cone.

Gets a whole new cool .... when you get up close.

Mike's Other Pixtures #98

I am a pretty regular visitor to the Denver Zoo.

If you've been there you know, the first decision after entering .... is left or right.

My choice is pretty much always right .... because that's the way to the Great Apes.

Because, on any day when Mias is in the big cargo net hammock .... there was going to be a good photo op.

You had to be patient to get the pixture you wanted .... as he would only occasionally peek out one of the holes.

Which made for a nice long encounter.

Mias passed away in October .... the end of a long battle with chronic respiratory issues.

A right turn to the Great Apes will probably still be my plan .... but it might not be as much fun anymore.

Mike's Other Pixtures #97

A monkey and his coconut.

Mike's Other Pixtures #96

I watched the movie Walter Mitty again just the other night.

You may remember that when Walter finally catches up with Sean O'Connell.

He is in the Afghanistan .... to photograph a Snow Leopard.

The ghost cat did appear .... but Sean did not take the pixture.

This is my ghost cat.

I didn't go to Afganistan, I went to the Denver Zoo .... but I did take the pixture.

Mike's Other Pixtures #95

Earlier this year .... I was a regular vistor to the Zoo.

Not so much in the back 1/2 of the year.

And look how happy this guy was to see me.

I need to find the time to visit more often.

Mike's Other Pixtures #94

Deep in thought

Mike's Other Pixtures #93

With or without the horn.

It's still a face .... that only a mother could love.

Mike's Other Pixtures #92

Kind of a bad hair day .... for this East African Crowned Crane

Mike's Other Pixtures #91

Is it just me .... or do these guys always look ticked off about something.

It's that disapproving chin tuck .... and the certainty that they would look down their nose at me.

Very British, I think.

Mike's Other Pixtures #90

When you are a "fill the frame, long lense" kind of shooter .... like I am.

It's harder to get a pixture of an elephant than you might imagine.

Like all zoos the Denver Zoo .... does a good job of keeping the people a safe distance from the animals.

But the newer habitats do let the animals get close to the people .... should they choose.

I don't like my zoo animal pixtures to have "man made stuff" like fences in the shot.

So when the animal is big and close .... I often end up with good pixtures of parts of that animal.

I like this one because I got the whole elephant.

And, he was doing things that showed the very cool curves .... he can create w/ all that trunk flexibility.

Mike's Other Pixtures #89

These two characters are inhabitants of .... Baboon Island at the Denver Zoo.

They obviously enjoy each others company .... but have little use for all of us who watch their antics.

It is rare for them to sit in any way that allows for a good pixture.

In fact, more than once .... they have moved away or turned a back as soon as they figure out that I have a good angle.

But that's part of the fun .... and I have the ability to go back another day.

Mike's Other Pixtures #88

This has always been my thing with photography .... getting the one image that captures the moment.

I tried video .... a medium much better suited to tell the whole story.

But did not enjoy it .... as much as the "stills" side of making pixtures.

This one .... comes from a walk in our neighborhood on a early spring day.

As I remember it .... just warm enough for a light jacket.

And maybe .... just warm enough to entice a bud to bloom.

Mike's Other Pixtures #87

King Julien

Mike's Other Pixtures #86

So often now .... we hear of the evils of technology.

Here's a story for the good column.

A sunset at the Scripps Institute pier .... on La Jolla Shores beach.

I was lucky enough to share it with my wife .... just the other evening.

While Lydia was in Denver .... and I walked the beach in San Diego.

Mike's Other Pixtures #85

A bear and his barrel

Mike's Other Pixtures #84

The Opaki is a member of the giraffe family.

The bottom half makes you think that they are part zebra.

But you will have to take my word for it .... as I didn't get any of that in this pixture.

There are thought to be 10,000 to 20,000 of them living in the forests of of the Congo.

The only place on earth where they are found, in the wild.

Mike's Other Pixtures #83

A life of being eye candy .... can wear a bear out.

Mike's Other Pixtures #82

Those of you who frequent the Denver Zoo know.

That if you are going to visit the Great Apes.

You have to pass thru the monkey house, coming or going.

Not one of my favorite exhibits as the Zoo. 

In order to keep the monkeys where they belong but still let you see them .... they put glass between you and them. And, it's kind of dark in their.

Which is generally not a recipe that a photographer likes.

Unless you have a very cool camera (Nikon D800) like mine.

Then you have a lot of ISO.

So, with just a little posing help from guys like this Golden Lion Tamarin .... pixtures are possible there now too.

Mike's Other Pixtures #81

One of those happy accidents that can happen with a good camera.

We were out for a walk .... taking pixtures of spring blossoms.

After I had this shot .... Linda pointed out the bee on the branch.

By zooming way, way in .... thank you D800.

Look what I had.

Mike's Other Pixtures #80

I have been a regular offender at the Zoo this year .... and loving it.

Enough visits, in fact .... that I have even been finding time to visit the Tropical Experience.

Interesting stuff in there. 

I've gotten used to the hot and humid .... and I kind of like the constant swirl of kids.

But the pixture making is not easy.

I am not willing (or probably skilled enough) to use a flash in there.

So thank goodness for my new camera .... which gives me the option of ISO 6400.

Even at that lofty ISO, this pixture of a Hump-Headed Lizard .... was only 1/25 sec at f6.3.

Kind of a good thing that these guys like to sit for long period of time without moving.

Because if they were in motion .... that shutter speed is just not going to work.

And then of course everything in there is a pixture shot thru glass.

Which is a good thing, otherwise all the critters would be running loose .... and we would be screaming and jumping.

Mike's Other Pixtures #79

It always strikes me as ironic.

The Cheetah is one of the fastest animals on the planet.

And clearly .... on of the laziest at the Zoo.

Most of the times that I have stopped at their enclosure .... they are no where to be seen.

But occasionally, when the sun is just right .... if you are willing to wait for him to raise his head.

This pixture .... is an option.

Mike's Other Pixtures #78

As you know, I really enjoy a day at the Zoo .... taking pixtures.

And, when the Tigers are our and posing .... I find it very hard to walk by.

Took this one using my 2x multiplier .... so at 800mm.

I have to focus these manually.

And, that really makes me appreciate the autofocus function that I normally have.

I think that I am getting these "tack sharp" .... but start to doubt that when the Tiger closes his eyes.

I am not sure if it is the natural camouflage doing it's job.

Or me not having my normal point of reference .... their eyes. 

Not using thenew  "sweet spot" of this lens multiplied.

Or maybe not enough DOF.

I guess that's lots of reason to make another trip .... and experiment some more.

Woo Hoo !!!!

Mike's Other Pixtures #77

From a walk around our neighborhood in late April.

Seems like the trees went from .... bare branches to leaves to blossoms in just 2 days.

This shot was from the tree right outside our front door.

Mike's Other Pixtures #76

Pretty just gets prettier .... when you get close.

Mike's Other Pixtures #75

When you go to the Zoo.

Do you ever wonder .... who's really watching who?

Looks to me like this Baboon .... has a couple of tasty twigs and a good seat.

To watch the parade of humans passing by.

And doing funny things.

Mike's Other Pixtures #74

Today, I asked the boys to help me pick my post for the week.

Because they came up with two different pixtures .... both of which are good choices.

I am going to make this week's post and double header.

Both shots are from the Denver Zoo.

In case you haven't already figured it out .... I got a new camera recently.

Which always makes me a frequent visitor to the Zoo.

In fact, I think I have been there at least once a week since getting the new camera.

Mike's Other Pixtures #73

I struggle with the Big Horn Sheep at the Denver Zoo.

I think it might have a lot to do with the time of day that I usually visit.

It's a bright sunny venue .... inhabited by a really white animal.

So, if you don't get there early .... there is a really big chance for a "washed out shot".

On this day .... he was close to the fence, so I could get in tight.

And, the shadows that you see .... helped to tone all of that down.

They are actually the tree branches that I shot thru .... to get the sun where I needed it.

Mike's Other Pixtures #72

It was a good day for Baboon pixtures.

They were out and performing .... but regularly sitting still to survey the audience.

With my new 2x Teleconverter .... I was ready to get in close.

The pose made a nice display of both the creature and the habitat.

But it was the afternoon sun .... and as you can see that puts it on their backs.

So, we'll try again another day.

The morning sun on their faces .... would make the perfect day for Baboon pixtures.

Mike's Other Pixtures #71

A giraffe is alot of animal to get in the frame.

When you use an 800mm lens.

But I'm not sure I could shoot it any other way.

Mike's Other Pixtures #70

There is something about getting a new camera .... that makes every pixture look better.

I am sure that a big part of that is the effect of "trading up" .... better quality, more features.

But there is something beyond that.

Maybe it's the "sharper eye" .... of a more motivated photographer.

Maybe it's just a little bit of magic.

Maybe it's some wishful thinking.

But whatever it is .... it's fun.

Mike's Other Pixtures #69

The Okapi is native to Central Africa .... although this one lives at the Denver Zoo.

They have markings that might make you think of a zebra .... but they are in fact, a relative of the giraffe.

The horizontal stripes on the legs .... are thought be so that the young can follow their mothers through the dense rainforest. 

And may .... also serve as camouflage.

They have a much shorter neck .... than their cousin the giraffe.

But the same .... long, pointed, blue-grey tongue as the giraffe. 

That they use to strip buds and leaves from trees .... and to clean their own eyelids and ears (inside and out).

Mike's Other Pixtures #68

This is a Somali Wild Ass.

Kind of an ordinary looking guy .... with a complex and interesting story.

There are maybe as few as 700 of them left in the wild ... Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

As of 2011 there were also about 100 of them in captivity .... and breeding programs around the world.

As tough as their today is .... they have quite a noble past.

Domestic donkeys found in Italy are typically descended from the Somali wild ass. 

As opposed to those from other European countries .... which are usually descended from the Nubian wild ass.

Mike's Other Pixtures #67

One of my least favorite animals to photograph at the Zoo .... Camels.

Their compound is particularly ugly.

Hard to frame shots so the man made parts ..... like chain link fences don't show.

And camels are ugly .... really ugly.

I think they know it too.

They are always standing far away .... generally with their back towards you.

Mike's Other Pixtures #66

It's always a good day when the Polar Bears are available for a photo op.

When the heat comes .... they of course hide themselves away.

This particular day was sunny but quite cold .... which suits them just fine.

This guy made me work for the shot though.

Her mate was out and parading around .... but she was sitting just inside their cave.

Love my long lens for just this very reason.

I can reach out to get the "portrait shot" that I always favor.

Mike's Other Pixtures #65

It was just about the right kind of day for a Giraffe pixture.

Sunny but not too bright.

And this guy was quite busy getting his lunch from the hay ball .... that you see just behind his head.

As is so often the case, at this venue  .... the light was coming from not quite the right direction.

But a little work in post production .... let me compensate for that.

And that hanging hay .... just the right touch for different.

In case you are wondering .... this is not the hay that escaped his mouth.

It's the portion of this mouthful .... that just hadn't made it all the way in yet.

Mike's Other Pixtures #64

The Tigers are among my favorite pixture ops at the Zoo.

For obvious reasons their compound provides considerable distance between them and us. 

There is always a mixture of light and shadow in their compound .... both of which they seem to like in equal amounts. 

My long lens and some cropping in Lightroom lets me create the tight head shots that I prefer.

And those pixtures are always dramatic .... IF .... I get the focus on the eyes exactly right (like I did in the one on the upper left).

 But if you miss that focus, on the eyes, even just a little bit (like the right eye on the pixture in on the right side of this post) it looses a lot of it's punch. 

Sage photographic advice, always tells you to get the eyes and to get them in sharp focus.

In the case of the Tiger .... their natural camouflage pattern seems to magnify this need.

Our eye needs a frame of reference .... if it is going to make sense out of this jumble of colors and lines.

On the same day, I took a 3rd pixture .... a very nice profile.

It was this pixture that I was excited about.

It was an angle that I had not shot before.

But, in the end .... it is not at all pleasant to look at .

There is just no place for my eye to enter this pixture.

And as a result .... it's tough to make out what I am seeing.

Mike's Other Pixtures #63

I like the Zoo .... a lot.

It's a nice escape from the realities of everyday life.

Doing one of my favorite things .... taking pixtures.

My habit .... after my camera is set up and ready to go.

Is to first visit the Lions .... a popular stop that seldom presents exciting photo ops.

And then go to the left.

Where one of my favorite subjects, the Zebras .... most often do give me a good photo op.

But there are limits. 

I generally get a chance or two or six .... at a shot like the one at the top of this post.


Then I get the other end .... a not so subtle clue to move on, as my turn is over.

But other subjects are waiting.

And I'll get another chance .... the next time I visit.

And this year .... that is going to be lots.