San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park

Friday was a special photo opportunity day as our best friends took us on a photo safari at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. The photo safari is a 3 and a half hour ride in the back of a truck, with our own guide, through the middle of the areas of the park. We get the opportunity to photograph the animals up close. We also get to feed giraffes and rhinoceros by hand. The photo safari is a great experience; if you can afford it, do it.

This photo is just one available by visiting the park. You don't have to go on any special tour to see this site. Besides the photo caravan safari, you can take the train around the park (for free) and of course, walk around to many different exhibits. I prefer the ape exhibit at the Wild Animal Park to that at the San Diego Zoo. Of course the new lion enclosure at the Wild Animal Park is outstanding.

The Closer, Trevor Hoffman

Feliz gets a piece of Trevor Hoffman's pitch, but easily flies out to Giles in right field -- a can-o-corn. This was the 2nd out in the ninth. One more out to victory for the Pads, 7-2, Giants lose their second in as many days.

The checkerboard pattern you see is the result of me sitting behind the foul ball netting. It's the only way to get this view without actually being on the field.

Flash of Fireworks

I take photos of fireworks whenever the opportunity arrises, but I usually use longer exposures to capture the streaks of light. I shot this shot at 1/50 second and ISO 800 to capture what normal fireworks photos do not -- the spark and smoke in just one flash of fireworks.

Orange Sunset

I was just leaving the house to pick up my daughter from work when I spotted the sun sitting on the horizon looking like a large orange ball. I drove back in the driveway, got my camera, and got off this shot as the sun went down.

First Photo is NOT by Me!

Portrait of me by Julie-Ana, as I was teaching her how to use her mom's camera. I did lots of funny faces, of course, but this struck me as both strange and interesting enough to use as my profile photo. Get used to it -- it will be here for a while (or not).

For the inquiring mind... the photo was taken with a Canon Digital Rebel using a Canon 28-135 USM IS lens and Canon 420EX flash.

Getting Started

It's official -- here goes my first blog (sort of). Stay tuned for something at least minimally more interesting than this.