POTW: Monkeys
On the way back from the hippo pool, this troop of vervet monkeys was hanging out in the trees. While the one on the left (likely Momma) was keeping a close eye on us, one of the other adults was doing its best to groom the baby’s fur before it jumped down again. The infant [...]
The Great Water Horse
Soft grunts and the occasional bellow lure guests down a long wooden walkway to the outdoor bar over the Hippo Pool at Keekorok Lodge. Hippo Sounds (Courtesy of the San Diego Zoo) When you arrive, at first all you may see are eyes, nostrils and ears. Unable to swim, the third largest animal in the [...]
The View From Above
Darkness and an early morning chill cloaked the savannah when the legion of Land Rovers set out for an early morning adventure. We jolted our way along winding dirt roads to the hot air balloon launch site. The “Blue Hour” was just beginning as we checked-in and listened to the pilot briefing. The sky [...]
POTW: Momma And Baby Baboon
A troop of baboons scampered across the road in front of us as we wound through the dusty and bumpy roads of the Samburu Game Reserve. A couple of babies clung tightly to their mothers’ backs as they ran in front of our safari van. Once they stopped in the bushes along the road side, [...]
Lion In Wait
A lifetime of zoo visits can’t prepare you for the thrill of your first view of a lion in the wild. The lion’s penetrating gaze as its mane ruffles softly in the wind will send a little chill down your spine. The King and Queen of the Jungle (or in this case savannah) may look [...]
By The Light Of A Blue Moon
The full moon wasn’t visibly blue, but its light bathed the 176-year old Laurel Hill Cemetery in a glow for hours last night. Part outdoor sculptural garden and part horticultural oasis, Laurel Hill is the final resting place of some of Philadelphia’s most famous and wealthiest residents. Both peaceful and eerie, statuary at Laurel Hill [...]
Cellblock 14
Moody. Crumbling. Haunting. Once the crown jewel of the Pennsylvania Corrections system, Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) was abandoned in 1971 after continually housing inmates for 142 years. Known for its distinctive wagon-wheel design and its system of keeping inmates in isolation so that they could contemplate their sins and their penitence, ESP housed some of [...]
POTW – April 9, 2012: Anchors Away
Today’s Photo of The Week comes from outside Fisgard Lighthouse in Victoria, British Columbia. The sign post at the center of the anchors points out the distance to Victoria, London, Yokohama, Japan and Seattle.
Esquimalt Harbor
Fog and mist were the key hallmarks during my vacation to Victoria last July. Locals assured me it was an unusually chilly summer and that their normal July weather was governed by the Pineapple Express. They swore to me that July on Vancouver Island felt a lot like being in Hawaii. We never saw anything [...]
Back To Sooke
Another view of Wiffen Spit Park in Sooke, British Columbia. The fog and mist that had dogged us all day finally began to clear off when we arrived out at Wiffen Spit. If you look closely in the distance, you can see plumes of fog rising off the hills in the distance across the water. [...]
POTW – April 1 – Race Rock Lighthouse
I took this shot while out on a Orca whale watching during my vacation on Vancouver Island last summer. It was the only pretty day I got on the trip. We were lucky to watch a playful transient pool of Orcas that day. After watching the juvenile porpoise in and out of the water for [...]
POTW: Sooke, British Columbia
Shot in July 2011 at Wiffen Spit Park, Sooke on Vancouver Island. This shot is my first foray into HDR photography, with Nik software’s HDR Efex Pro. The original shot was taken on a gloomy, overcast, gray summer afternoon. I think this version makes a far more interesting photo. Photo Details: 1/160 sec at f/7.1, [...]
Splash Of Spring Color
On a somewhat gloomy May Sunday, I decided I was in need of a taste of spring. So, I made the drive out to Longwood Gardens to gaze at the spring flowers. While the tulip gardens were the main attraction, there were all sorts of beautiful blooms on which to feast the eyes. A few [...]
April Cherry Blossoms
Every year I say I’m going to make it down to see the DC Cherry Blossom Festival and then something comes up with work and I miss it. This year, I finally made it. Saturday was overcast and rainy, so my friend Mia and I went shopping at Tysons II and lusted over Prada, Dior [...]
Venetian Architecture
For the last week, I’ve been wading through my pictures from my trip to Venice last October. I only processed a small portion when I came back before I got distracted by other projects. Below is a sampling of some of my favorite photos of the buildings and statues of Venice. The first is a [...]
Spring Blossoms
Mother nature gave us a beautiful first day of spring–sunny, blue skies, 72 degrees. The tree in my backyard has begun to flower and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Birds are flying about and the wind chimes are tinkling on the gentle breeze that floats in through my sliding door. Considering the wretched winter we had, I [...]
Snow Geraniums
We’re getting our first snow today and yet my geraniums are still in full bloom. It just seems wrong.
Burano
On an overcast October day, I took a series of boats out to Burano, a small island in the North Lagoon. Historically, Burano was an island known for its lace making and fishermen. While there are fewer lace makers on Burano today, it’s still home to fishermen and artists who live in brightly colored houses. [...]
A Few Random Shots From Venice
There’s no real theme to the shots here, but just a few I liked. Gondola row: A canal near my hotel that seems to be a hotspot on the gondola run. One right after another all day long comes through there. The view from the Rialto Bridge of the Grand Canal: http://the35thillusion.blogspot.com
Sunset Over Venice
Really beautiful sunset over Venice tonight: A small sunset series of Santa Maria Della Salute: http://the35thillusion.blogspot.com
Acqua Alta
In addition to darkened skies, a new moon (and a full moon) brings Acqua Alta, or to non-Venetians, high tidal waters that under the right conditions can put a large chunk of Venice under water. Fortunately, the flooding today was minor by Acqua Alta standards, with tides topping out around 1.03 meters. Now, this doesn’t [...]
Kim Day is a freelance photographer and travel writer located in the Philadelphia suburbs.