Safari West, the Third and Final Installment

After four days of wild animal posts you might be over it. I get it. But I have to admit I'm still totally enamoured with these shots, and more, with the memories that go with them. I might not have mentioned it before, but we spent the evening after dinner on our porch, a stone's throw away from the giraffe enclosure, playing poker until the wee hours of the morning.

Now if you don't remember me as a huge poker player that would most likely be because I'm not.  When I was in college we played a few times for nickels and dimes. Sometimes we would graduate to the outrageousness of quarters. I'm afraid that this training created a less-than-stellar poker player, one who accepted losses without much gnashing of teeth. Either that or I've just never been very competitive.

So it will come as no surprise to hear that I lost the game early. (There were 14 of us playing, and I think I was first to go out. Not perhaps my finest moment.)

But Evan managed to get second place. So at least I can pick my men, even if I can't play my cards.

All right, down to business. Here are the last of the safari photos.

Safari West, Part II

There are a few things I can't resist when it comes to taking photos. One is water, in all its forms. Fog, mist, oceans, rivers, waterfalls, fountains . . . I could go on.

Another, apparently, is my cat. Occasionally I foist images of her on my unsuspecting blog audience. (Suspecting, probably, at this point, I'd say. But I'm just so glad she's around.)

Flowers, too, cliche as they are, will still get me to pull out the camera with some haste. Great color pairs, gorgeous light. Oh yes, gorgeous light, my personal favorite.

Sometimes also food. When I feel inspired.

But high on the list as well, are animals who are not my cat. Surprising, I know. And honestly, the wilder the better, but I'll take 'em as I can get 'em. Zoos are fine, safari parks are even better. City streets too. I'm not picky. So you better believe that I gave my shutter button a good workout last weekend.

And here are some of the results. I hope you enjoy them. Part III just might be coming tomorrow. We'll see.

This, Safari West's website tells me, is a Greater Kudu. I agree. 

This is a species that no longer exists in the wild, the Scimitar Horned Oryx. The last wild Scimitar-Horned Oryx was seen in the 1980s. 

Another Scimitar-Horned Oryx and a herd of Wildebeest.

Landscape. No animals here, sorry.

A Cape Buffalo. Friendly to other buffalo, really unfriendly to humans. Apparently if it gets angry with you it will track you for days until it gets you. Interaction NOT ADVISED. (Oh, and one of the Big 5: lions, elephants, leopard, rhinos, and cape buffalo.)

Gemsbok. Pretty, aren't they?

A white rhino. I would NOT want to get in his way. Apparently male white rhinos can weigh up to 6,000 pounds. And you thought your truck was heavy!

And another shot of that sweet baby impala. I just couldn't resist. 

*I'd like to dedicate this post to Mr Steve Jobs, who changed my life when I wasn't looking, and made a hell of a phone, as well as a lasting impression on all of us. I can only aspire to one day be as committed to quality and perfection as he was. *

Something New

I don't know if you all remember (sometimes I can't even remember my name, let alone anything else!), but last month or so, I mentioned this cool animal photographer I had found on 500px. His name is Wolf Ademeit (or at least that's his internet name), and he creates these stunning images of animals against a black background.

I found his work so arresting and unusual, but I figured he somehow managed to get his animals into a studio, or at least in some kind of controlled setting. No way! He shoots at zoos and other public animal parks. The black background is all achieved in post processing.

So I thought I'd try it for myself with one of my shots from Safari West. The giraffe's head was shot against the sky, so it was easy to isolate the head in photoshop and make everything else black. What do you all think? Is it cool? Weird? Too different? I think I like it, but I don't think I'd do it too often. Then again, it might make an interesting series.

Change of Season

It started raining today, and I don't know why, but it soothed me. I stepped out onto the speckled street, felt the hint of a bite in the air, and I breathed long.

It's time. I can feel it. Time for tea, and for spices, and also for orange and amber and warm browns. Candles. Pumpkins, apples, squash, apple pie. Indian summer was good to us, and it's probably not quite over, but I'm ready for fall. And winter, as much as we ever get it here.

I know this is a little scruffy looking, but I just LOVE the colors in the background. Fall, here we come!

Safari West

We had an amazing weekend, spent with Evan's company at Safari West. If you're anywhere near Northern California and you like animals at all, you have to go. It was the two most magical days I've spent in a long time. We arrived for lunch, went on a two-hour jeep safari among herbivore-grazed fields, and then spent another 40 minutes on a walking tour of aminals in zoo-like enclosures. Then we spent the night in 'tents,' which were much swankier than the word implies. And to top it all off, in the morning we got to see some other animals up close and personal, and even touch some of them!

I can't even imagine being this tall.

I felt like a kid. I think you're supposed to outgrow this fascination with zebras and giraffes and such, but I never did. I honestly can't think of a more pleasant way to spend a couple days than seeing all our distant relatives in their natural glory. And they're fascinating! Did you know the tongue of a giraffe is ten inches long?? I didn't, but now I feel so informed.

Can we call this my Sistine Chapel homage?

Great Big Eyes

It's all about the eyes. Person, dog, deer, the eyes are what count. And this little baby impala has amazing eyes. Wouldn't you agree?