This is an Okapi, as you can see they have enormous ears relative to the size of their heads. I have been trying to get a shot of them for a while, they have always been in a weird position compared to the light and how close I can get to them.  This time I was able to get the shot i wanted. I realize that it is the back of head and not the face. The shape and detail of the ears is really amazing. from the front it just looks like another relative of the horse.

This is a texture blend but only the background. I am really liking what an added texture can do to the Bokeh (background Blur) of a photo.  It can really make it look more hand painted or shaded.

"My what big ears you have"

There is so much detail in leaves, I love the lines, symmetry, and texture.

Remember when...

Randomly generated abstract fountain bubble art

Abstract Foam Art

On our most recent trip to the zoo, I happened to look up and notice these amazing clouds floating over the Desert Dome. I thought the texture was really neat next to the convex shapes of the panels of the dome,

Wispy clouds of cotton

I took a couple of hours off to take the kids to the Zoo on thursday, it was 68 degrees in January! Who can pass that up? It was great to wander and take pictures and let the kids play. It still amazes me every time I go there I find something new to shoot. I haven’t migrated to shooting people yet but maybe someday I will. The giraffes were the last stop of the day before I had to go back to work.

Comfortable in freckles

A perspective of the meditation pool in the Garden of the Senses, at Henry Doorly Zoo. My wife actually took this photo,  I really like the perspective and the colors. I did some extensive playing with it, I wanted it to convey more feeling than the flat photograph.

From the Lions Mouth

Every time I go to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, I end up wanting to take pictures in this area of the Desert Dome. There are a a couple of palm trees, and a little mini pond with these amazing seemingly miniature ducks. The pool is only 6 or 8 inches deep but there is some nice native grass planted around the pool which give it a nice back drop. The Dome is usually well lit since the entire dome structure is made of translucent panels that help maintain the temperature of the Dome.

A duck oils it's feathers in the desert dome, Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska

The rest of the tiger photos from a few weeks ago.

It took me a bit to figure out what these were, floating in the moat of the outdoor tiger exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.  These are the large plastic balls that they put in the cages for the tigers to play with. If you look closely you can see all the scratches on them. I’ve never been there while the cats were playing with them, but I’m sure it would be quite the thing to watch.

Supersize cat toys

These are more photos from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. If I haven’t said it here yet it is one of the premier zoos in the country, and they are expanding their exhibits. The current project is the expansion of the aquarium building, including new jellyfish exibits.

While wandering through the Cat Complex last weekend I came across the tigers resting in their enclosures. The environment around them is kind of dull, drab and unphotogenic, so I decided to focus on the details of their faces. They eyes can be very piercing when you sit and stare at them for a while. I’m sure that they are more intimidating when there is not a cage in the way.

Sleeping Puma

On Saturday we made another trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. My kids love the Cat Complex, the big cats seem to have a certain appeal. Maybe it is because they have that cuddly look in a huge package. Either way I was fortunate enough to have a decent quality and quanity of light to get some shots of the big cats. It is usually very dark in the building and difficult to get decent shots. On Saturday I was able to crank up the ISO a little and get some good shots. This was the first cat I came across, usually they are pacing, restless, and look agitated. This many were sleeping and resting peacefully. This is the resident puma.