Rehoboth Revisited. Again.

Returning for a moment to the happy place of my childhood vacations, we have another group of photos from Rehoboth Beach, DE. Actually, the shot of the WWII-era observation towers is from North Rehoboth, halfway to Cape Henlopen, but close enough. I didn't fully appreciate this 1999 photograph until recently, when I scanned the negative. There are PEOPLE (I know!) walking in the distance. There's a gull in flight near the more distant tower and another one standing in the lower right-hand corner, as well as a lone sandpiper near the very bottom of the frame - all of which I can barely make out in the machine-printed 4x6 that came from the store.

Gulls - 2001. Usually it's only two to a light pole, but today, let's live dangerously and make it three!

I posted the time-lapse shot of Funland's carousel last year, so this time I thought I'd show what it really looks like. It's not the park's original, but it is still a pretty special machine.

The Paratrooper. I remember when they added this ride, and to this day it remains my favorite. The views of Rehoboth and the breeze on one's dangling feet are worth every ticket.

Plus, look how FAST it goes!

Another shot from 2001 that nearly got away. I had been shooting long exposures for over an hour, and had just shot this ride in motion. When it sat idle for just a moment, I realized it was the only ride in the entire park that wasn't moving. In the background, the little fire trucks, boats, carousel, silver spinny things, teacups and helicopters are all a blur of kiddie fun. I also like that the haunted mansion is just visible at the far right of the frame.

Toys! "We await The Claw. Ooooooohh..."

The iconic Dolles sign. I can't imagine the corner of Rehoboth Avenue and the Boardwalk without it.

Going back to 1999, we have a study in wind-swept foliage and late afternoon shadows along the dune fence.

The happy hour sun on one of Rehoboth's weathered old jetties.

Thank you for joining me for my beach therapy! Back soon...

Birds & Bees & Stuff

Let's snap back to real time for a moment. Yes, I'm still scanning. There's a pretty good pile of decent 35mm material still to come. But for now, here are some shots I took last weekend at our own private Bed & Breakfast (and Dinner!) - [Maris]'s parents' house, on Virginia's Northern Neck. Above: Bumblebee, doing some serious bumbling.

Same Bumblebee, loading up on the pollen.

Flowers. Specifically, purple ones.

White ones! With red dots in the middle!

Some kind of woodpecker-y, flicker-y little bird.

Hummingbirds. These little dudes are an incredible challenge, and I will return to get some better photos when it's not 95 humid degrees.

Dragonfly. Electric blue. So cool.

Osprey. Almost fell off the deck to get this hasty shot as he zoomed overhead.

Blue Crab - scuttling. Not sure how he lost his other claw - he was by far the biggest one I saw out there.

That's all for now. See you in a few days!

Pandas At Rest

The more peaceful moments at the National Zoo's Giant Panda Exhibit in March, 2001. Mei Xiang grabs a few winks in between wrestling bouts, above.

Tian Tian, sprawling.

Mei in her sleeping trees.

Mei in her "escape from Tian" tree.

Mei and Tian - nap time. That is why they don't do two shows a day, anymore!

Thanks for stopping by!

More Feathered Friends And Even Some Egrets

When it comes to winged critters, I'm not just about pelicans. Here's a sampling of some of the more interesting birds I've managed to capture on film, including a bunch of Florida's egrets. The snowy egret above is out for an early morning stroll on the beach in Naples, FL in 1999.

I cropped this to death to get rid of as much of the #$%& light leak as I could. The bird is a cormorant, and I like to pretend the "submerged cable" sign actually says "no cormorants." This is also Naples, FL - 1999.

I know the shot isn't great, but it's the only one I have of the extremely cool frigatebird. Key West, FL - 2000.

Ostriches! Tennessee or southwestern Virginia, I think - 1998.

Emu!?! South-central PA - 1998.

Tiny black bird atop Florida East Coast Railway signal - St. Augustine, FL - 1999.

Some kind of egret - St. Augustine, FL - 1999.

"I'm taller." "No, I'm taller!" Snowy egrets at Fort De Soto Park - St. Petersburg, FL - 1999.

"I just got settled. Don't make me fly away. This is my favorite post." Snowy egret - Naples, FL - 1999.

Snowy egrets in flight over St. Augustine, FL - 1999. Had no idea egrets flew in "V" formations, just like Canada geese. Cool.

Thanks for taking a look. Back soon with more stuff...

Pelicans With No Egrets!

What can I say - I really like pelicans. They've been around for over 40 million years, which beats most critters on this planet. Also, for a plump, awkward-looking bird on land, they are astonishing fliers, divers and swimmers. Clearly, this is a species that really knows what it's doing. The sleeping bird above is at the beach in Naples, FL in 1999.

There are actually a few cormorants in this shot, but it's mostly pelicans, captured in just about every conceivable pelican pose. Naples, FL 1999.

They're faster than they look, and despite the back-lighting here on the beach at La Mer in Key West, FL in 2002, I still like this shot.

Two frames of Pelicans in flight - Naples, FL 1999.

This youngster is airing out his wings before heading back into the water. Naples, FL 1999.

One pelican, two shots. This is on the fishing pier in Ft. De Soto Park, St. Petersburg, FL 1999.

Marathon, FL 1991.

Tough noontime exposure on the sand at La Mer in Key West in early December, 2002.

Thanks for looking. More birds to come - even a few egrets!