Moon Lift - Lake Mead

Even the moon needs a lift now and then.

Near Meadview, Arizona. February 2016.

Nikon D750 | Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

Mountain Bluebird - Rhyolite, NV

Sialia currucoides

A beautiful Mountain Bluebird (male) at Rhyolite Ghost Town, Nevada.

February 2016.

Nikon D7100 | Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

Orangutan - Cincinnati Zoo

Orangutan Cincinnati Zoo, July 2014.

Nikon D300 | Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro Lens

Looking Back: Prince Edward Island

I'm not really sure what these birds are. I suspect Plovers or Sandpipers, but I could not find this one in my bird books. If anybody out there knows, please leave in comments. Thanks. One of the many things I love about PEI, besides the lighthouses and wildlife, is the beautiful red sand. North Cape Lighthouse, Prince Edward Island 2012.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Remembering Prince Edward Island

Photographed these shells that had washed ashore at the 

North Cape Lighthouse, Prince Edward Island, 2012.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Lunar Eclipse - Blood Moon

This morning's lunar eclipse, photographed from my front porch. 

October 8, 2014.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Sunset - Langley Resort Fort Royal

Deshaies, Guadeloupe. May 2014.

Sunset view looking north on the boardwalk in front of our beach bungalow.

Macaws - Jardin Botanique

Blue and Gold Macaws at the Jardin Botanique. 

 Deshaies, Guadeloupe. May 2014.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Le Rayon Vert - Deshaies Guadeloupe

 Le Rayon Vert, Deshaies, Guadeloupe. May 2014. 

My favorite place for a relaxing swim,  fabulous sunset views overlooking the Caribbean and great food. We  loved stopping at Le Rayon Vert for dinner and a cool dip at the end of a long day. Our hotel served a buffet that had a better selection of alcohol than food, so we opted to dine at this local hotel/restaurant instead. The name Le Rayon Vert ,which translates to 'The Green Ray', stems from the lighting effect of the setting sun on the ocean/sea horizon. The views from the infinity edge pool at Le Rayon Vert are spectacular.

Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), known more for his writings on Japan and New Orleans than the Caribbean, mentions the green ray in his book, Two Years in the French West Indies. He describes the phenomena beautifully (1) "Across our way appears a long band of green light, reaching over the sea like a thin protraction of color from the extended spur of verdure in which the western end of the island terminates." (2) "The sunset offers a splendid spectacle of pure color; there is only an immense yellow glow in the west, - a lemon-colored blaze; but when it melts into the blue there is an exquisite green light..." 

While I too prefer a beautiful photo-shopped version of the Caribbean sunset famously depicted on postcards all over the island with lovely purples, magentas and blues.... this natural sunset reminded me of the lemon-colored blaze I had read about in Hearn's book. 

Le Rayon Vert is located in Deshaies, Guadeloupe near the shoulder of a steep hill on the N2. You will likely pass it going up the hill and again coming back down the hill, but you will catch it on the second trip up and trust me it is worth turning around for. The duck breast with the creole pepper sauce is incredible.

Nikon D7100 | Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX II.

Chutes Carbet - Guadeloupe

Chutes Carbet from a distance (about an hour away).

This is just the second fall of the three level waterfall. The first fall is way up there in the clouds, out of view. The third fall was another two hour hike away, so needless to say I do not have any photos of the other two falls. After an hour long hike through the wet and drizzling rain forest to this one and an hour hike back out, it was too late for any more exploring. I'm gonna make a point to return someday to do all three falls. May 2014.

Chutes Carbet from about a hundred feet away.

Nikon D7100 | Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX II.