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"

This is an HDR take on Mt. Rushmore National Monument, we got there at 6am, which was great because it was empty, I could set up the tripod and shoot whatever I wanted to  without the hassle of working around working around tons of people. When you look at the monument. it is truly amazing, there is an amazing amount of work that went into this monument. It was amazing to see how they did it with the basic tools, like jack hammers, dynamite, and such, no cranes, lifts etc.

Mt. Rushmore National Monument

This summer we hike up to Harney Peak in Custer State Park in South Dakota. We started early in the morning and it was cloudy and misty, which created an atmosphere that kind of reminded me of the ” Lord of the Rings” series. I think that was the the look I was going for here. If you click and look at the larger image you can see the hiking trail winding between the rock formations on the left side of the image.

Fantasy of Spires

I am just beginning to process all the photos I took on our road trip this summer. This is from our first stop Badlands National Park in South Dakota. We were itching to get out of the car and hike, so we searched the park map for the longest trail and took off. This was taken along the Castle Trail, which is accessable at via 3 separate trailheads along hwy 240 in the north section of the park. It is a really nice hike, not too strenuous but it gets very hot, we started early and still managed to run out of water. If you decide to make the trek, start early and take lots of water in the summer.

Buttes rise from the prarie, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Here is a shot I got early in the morning:

On last day of June I woke up at 4 am to take in the sunrise at Badlands National Park. It was technically the first day of our vacation. I was hoping to get a few good photos, but not sure where to start. After entering the park I drove to one of the main lookout sites near the entrance. It was mainly deserted, one or two other people, equally dedicated to the spectacle of the rising sun.

As I was hurrying around trying to get all the shots I wanted with the light I wanted, I began to slow down and just enjoy the experience. When viewed in the soft light of morning it is a magical experience, that reminds the viewer of the beauty of creation and the power of its Creator. In the afternoon sun it seems to become a harsh and barren landscape, it is hot and dry, and the colors are muted and dull. But in the first rays of dawn, the spires and canyons  are transformed, drawing you, begging to be explored……

This is the entrance to the Mt. Rushmore Memorial, this is not a view that you get by walking in from the parking garage. From the front it looks kind of dull and lifeless. I managed to get this shot in the early morning before the crowds arrived. The disappearing arches really drew my eye, along with the textures of the granite and the concrete ceiling.

I have a lot more shots to process from Mt. Rushmore. What has caught your eye and pulled you in on your visits?