Amba was a Siberian Tiger at the Milwaukee County Zoo. She was approximately 5 years old in this image and had just given birth to her first litter (Tula & Nuri). She had been busy watching her babies but paused to look into my camera, giving me the thrill of a lifetime.
7th in a weekly series featuring the Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners, Wisconsin: The storm was close and the thunder was rumbling, but I had to stop for one last shot. I barely made it to the car before the rain came down, but even if I hadn't, it would have been worth the stop!
The Milwaukee County Zoo has been successful in breeding the critically endangered Northern Bald Ibis. While it's probably not the most beautiful bird that I've photographed, I can still admire stark contrast of the black feathers and red face and curved bright red bill.
Just after sunrise at Melbourne Beach in Florida. While visiting relatives in Melbourne, I was able to get over to the beach every morning at sunrise. The Atlantic Ocean is always different, but always the same - always beautiful, always stunning.
This is one of the two cubs (Tula or Nuri) born to Amba, the Siberian Tiger in 2009 at the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin. The Zoo is involved in 93 Species Survival Plan programs for animals that live at the zoo, including the Siberian Tigers.
We were on our way back from a day trip and saw the cloud formations from the freeway. We found our way the Blue Ridge Parkway and got to the Great Valley overlook just before sunset. Glorious!
A hiker passed me at the Rock Castle Gorge overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. He said it was the first time he'd been so far south on the Parkway. The Appalachian Trail is a beautiful place to hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
6th in a weekly series featuring the Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners, Wisconsin: This was an amazing moment. Thunder was rumbling in the distance and a storm was approaching. The clouds had covered the sun but then parted for one last burst of sunlight. It created an oddly bright and dark scene.
I went to the azalea gardens in the rain. I had hoped the rain would slack off a bit, but when it didn't, I got out of the car with my umbrella and camera. The azaleas were in full bloom but the rain kept other visitors away, so it was just me amongst the flowers. Amazing!
The Milwaukee River runs through downtown Milwaukee, creating the boundary between the East and West sides of the city. The sidewalk bridges and elevated bridges across the River makes it easier for pedestrians on the Riverwalk.
Check out these coasters in my Redbubble shop - the Gazebo at the Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia. It was surreal to wander around the grounds during our stay at the Lodge, seeing the many views that were filmed during Dirty Dancing in the 80s.
Stella, the magnificent jaguar at the Milwaukee County Zoo. She is around 6 years old here. She first posed for me two years before and her gaze was still as striking. Seeing her looking into my eyes as I looked at her through my viewfinder was breathtaking!
5th in a weekly series featuring the Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners, Wisconsin: It is always quiet and serene in the area near the gazebo. Plenty of benches to sit and admire the gardens.
Amba was the Siberian Tiger at the Milwaukee County Zoo. In this photograph, she had just given birth to 2 cubs. The day of my visit, her cubs were being introduced to the public for the first time, and she was keeping a close eye on them.
While I was driving near a park in south Milwaukee in Wisconsin, I spotted a couple mute swans on the pond. They were dipping their heads and long graceful necks into the water to eat the vegetation at the bottom of the pond.
4th in a weekly series featuring the Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners, Wisconsin: A pleasant place to relax after wandering around the gardens. The tree is massive, making the bench seem so small in comparison. A perfect place to contemplate our place in the vast universe.