Dominican Brother From Another Mother

September 30, 2014 — 26 Comments

hispaniolan woodpecker

Hispaniolan Woodpecker

f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 900.

Caught this pecker, pecking away, pecking so hard that the palm tree kept swaying. Don’t peck so hard my little friend because you may go limp at the end.

I came across Hispaniolan Woodpecker in Dominican Republic, its very similar to Red-Bellied Woodpecker of my very first post.

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

F/8.0, 1/1000, ISO 800.

 

Interesting Fact: Their habitat, which is restricted to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, extends from the coasts, over the deserts to the mountains of the island.  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispaniolan_woodpecker )

Fall “O” Me Through This Season !

September 23, 2014 — 14 Comments

butterfly

F/6.3, 1/125, ISO 400.

 

I am not ready for the summer to end, but since this butterfly is not giving up on the season changing, I shall do the same.

Interesting Fact: One of the visible signs of fall is the changing color of the leaves. This happens because photosynthesis stops during this period so leaves do not stay green.  ( http://www.parkrideflyusa.com/blog/2012/09/21/12-fun-facts-about-fall/ )

Never Forget

September 10, 2014 — 11 Comments

9/11

F/11.0, 30, ISO 100.

This is a photo that I took last year while visiting a memorial for 9/11 downtown Jersey City. Words do not do it justice. Today lets all stand together and pay tribute to the ones we lost. You will not be forgotten- instead you will live in our hearts forever.

Interesting Fact:   The Tribute in Light is an art installation of 88 searchlights placed next to the site of the World Trade Center to create two vertical columns of light in remembrance of the September 11 attacks. It is produced annually by The Municipal Art Society of New York. ( http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribute_in_Light )

And We Dance All Day To The Best Song Ever !

September 7, 2014 — 8 Comments

Dancing

F/19.0, 1/10, ISO100.

Central park in NYC is an amazing place and you can always find something going on. This time we stumbled upon senior dancers who seemed to have so much fun and so much energy.  Hats off to them!  They can easily out dance me in a battle dancing competition.

Interesting Fact: First archeological proof of dance comes from the 9 thousand year old cave paintings in India.  ( http://www.dancefacts.net/ )

The Sun Don’t Shine Forever, But As Long As It’s Here Then We Might As Well Shine Together

September 2, 2014 — 45 Comments

sunflower sunset

F/9.0, 1/320, ISO 100, Flash.

Maybe this sunflower lost all its pedals, but the sun in this photo made it in to the real sun flower.

Interesting Fact: A well-known sunflower characteristic is that the flowering heads track the sun’s movement, a phenomenon known as heliotropism. ( http://www.amazingandweird.com/facts/26-interesting-facts-sunflower-never-knew/ )

I Said A Hip Hop, Hippie To The Hippie, The hip, hip a hop, and you don’t stop, a rock it.

August 17, 2014 — 34 Comments

green grasshopper

F/5.6, 1/250, ISO 640.

For this photo I would like to use quotes from famous Kung Fu (TV Series) (1972)  ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068823/quotes )

Master Po: [after easily defeating the boy in combat] Ha, ha, never assume because a man has no eyes he cannot see. Close your eyes. What do you hear?

Young Caine: I hear the water, I hear the birds.

Master Po: Do you hear your own heartbeat?

Young Caine: No.

Master Po: Do you hear the grasshopper that is at your feet?

Young Caine: [looking down and seeing the insect] Old man, how is it that you hear these things?

Master Po: Young man, how is it that you do not?

 

On my journey of exploring new places, I didn’t hear a grasshopper at my feet, but I did manage to snap a photo of it. I think Master Po would be proud of me.

Interesting Fact: They make their sound (music) by rubbing their
wings or legs together. They can jump 20 times the length of their body. That would be like a 6′ man jumping 120 feet. There are over 18,000 different species worldwide. ( http://www.bugfacts.net/grasshopper.php )

Keep On Knocking But You Can’t Come In.

August 10, 2014 — 13 Comments

Downy Woodpecker

F/5.6, 1/160, ISO 100

Away on vacation strange knock I hear,

I open the door and what do I see

a Downy Woodpecker up In a tree.

I rush for my camera and run out the door

I snap a few photos and that’s about all.

 

Interesting Fact: Woodpeckers don’t sing songs, but they drum loudly against pieces of wood or metal to achieve the same effect. People sometimes think this drumming is part of the birds’ feeding habits, but it isn’t. In fact, feeding birds make surprisingly little noise even when they’re digging vigorously into wood. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/downy_woodpecker/lifehistory )

 

 

 

 

 

Relax, It’s The Weekend!

August 1, 2014 — 41 Comments

Red Panda

F/5.6, 1/40, ISO 1600.

I have to say this Red Panda has the right idea, lay down and enjoy yourself after a hard week of work.  Although, I don’t think you should use the tree, it might be a little bit uncomfortable.  But after all, weekend is here, go grab yourself a beer! I almost forgot, this is a Red Panda from Central Park Zoo, it’s so cute I would like to take it home. Enjoy the weekend and the photo.

 

Interesting Fact:  Although the red panda is sometimes called the lesser panda, it is actually the original panda. Westerners discovered it in 1825, nearly 50 years before the giant panda.  ( http://www.centralparkzoo.com/animals-and-exhibits/animals/mammals/red-panda.aspx )

This Tree Is Livin’ On The Edge! The Leaves Can’t Help Themselves From Fallin’ !

July 29, 2014 — 16 Comments

Livin On The Edge

F/11.0, 1/125, ISO 140.

Visiting Upstate New York our friends showed us around the area, and when we came across this tree was screaming for a photo.  When I saw this unique opportunity, I could not help myself to sing in my head Aerosmith song “Livin’ On The Edge”.
.

Interesting Fact: A single tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. That means two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of four! (

Tree Facts

)

Your Kung-Fu Is Good, But You Are No Match For My Great Egret Style!

July 11, 2014 — 26 Comments

Great Egret

F/5.6, 1/8000, ISO 1000.

This Great Egret showed off his crazy moves, and hit the road or I should say the sky.  I wanted to learn more by observing this amazing bird, but unfortunately my presence spooked him away and the lesson was over.  The way they walk and hunt, it is actually quite interesting. I would highly recommend next time you see one, to stick around for few minutes, and you maybe see something that you haven’t seen before.

Interesting Fact: Great Egrets fly slowly but powerfully: with just two wingbeats per second their cruising speed is around 25 miles an hour. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_egret/lifehistory )