Wild Oats

Some wild oats are growing among the wheat fields. Here's a shot of them just after sunrise.

sammamish river

The sammamish river flows throw Redmond WA, where I stayed with by brothers for two weeks earlier this summer.

An eminent storm

I'm taking my weekend break from my 2008 San Diego trip series.
This was taken a few moments before a downpour of rain.

San Diego Zoo : Sky Watch

The San Diego Zoo has many aviaries full of exotic birds. The net that made up the roof of one of the aviaries had collected some leaves. Here's my Sky Watch shot for the week.
This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

San Diego Zoo : Crocodile

This is a shot of one of the crocodiles at the San Diego zoo. This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

San Diego Zoo : Rhino

This rhino was cooling off in his pond. It looks like it's raining because there is a fountain in his enclosure . This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

San Diego Zoo : Odd Shot

These zebras turned their backs to me, supposedly they didn't want their pictures taken. As soon as I took this I knew it would be on Monday odd shots.
If you want to join or see other odd shots visit Katney's blog
This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

Wheat fields

Another shot from the storm this weekend. It was actually sunny where I was standing, the storm was moving on. Tomorrow I will return to my 2008 San Diego trip series.

Clouds

This is another shot taken after a thunderstorm ripped through the Spokane area yesterday.

Rainbow

First I have an announcement to make, I am going to start posting NEW pictures Friday through Sunday then returning to my San Diego Trip series Monday through Thursday.
Here's a shot taken today after a thunderstorm passed over our house.

Sea World San Diego: Sky Watch

You might be wondering what fireworks have to do with Sea world. After a night show called "shamu rocks" we were treated to a full fireworks display. This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

Sea World San Diego: sea lions

The sea lion show at sea world was very entertaining. This is a before and after the sea lion jumped. This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

Sea World San Diego: Atlantis ride

The ride in the back of yesterday's shot is called "Journey to Atlantis". The ride creates a huge splash that I had to get a shot of. This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

Sea World San Diego: Monday Odd Shot

I can't believe summer is almost over, but I'm going to make the most of what I have left. This week for Monday odd shots I found this shot. Two seemingly unlike things, a Budweiser Clydesdale and a theme park ride were found right by each other. More about this ride tomorrow. if you want to join or see other odd shots visit Katney's blog
This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

Sea World San Diego: Budweiser Cart

Many of you may find it interesting that Anheuser Busch owns sea world. Anyway, they had this cart and some of the Clydesdale's there, in a place they call "Busch gardens".
Anheuser Busch is a proud sponsor of the Beijing Olympics, where Micheal Phelps has won his 8th gold medal of the games.
This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

Sea World San Diego: soak zone

For most of our time at sea world I made sure to sit above the section labeled the "soak zone". If you sat on that section you were guaranteed to get wet. This shows a dolphin splashing the crowd. some people came prepared with plastic ponchos, most did not.

Sea World San Diego: Dolphins

Sea world actually has several stadiums. custom built for each show and/or animal. This is at Discovery Cove, the dolphin stadium. This is my favorite shot of the dolphins, because I was able to capture them in action and also get a portion of the audience in the frame.
This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

Sea World San Diego: sky watch

Sea world is located on mission bay in San Diego. Here's a shot of the bay. I was surprised to find that only one boat was out enjoying this scene.
This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.
To see more sky watch shots go here.

Sea World San Diego: Splashed

An interesting part of the killer whale show was when they splashed the crowd. It was refreshing to get splashed. I was worried that my cameras would get damaged by the salt water, so I limited the time I spent shooting during the show. This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.
During the Olympic games please check out the medal count in my sidebar column. USA Olympian Michael Phelps is making a huge splash in Beijing, having won gold in all his 5 events so far. As of this post He has 11 carrier gold medals, that's an Olympic record.

Sea World San Diego: killer whale

Yesterday I asked you what was under this guy, most people guessed it was a dolphin, but some guessed right, it's a killer whale. This is a part of a show staring the huge animal. More from this outstanding show throughout the week. This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.
Please check out the Olympic medal count in my sidebar column. I've been having tons of fun watching the 2008 Beijing games. Go team USA!

Sea World San Diego: Monday Odd shots

Now back to my San Diego Trip series. This was taken at sea world. Can anyone guess what is beneath this guy. This is this weeks odd shot. if you want to join or see other odd shots visit Katney's blog
Be sure to check out the olympic medal count in my sidebar column throughout the next two weeks.

wild oats

some wild oat plant started up in our neighboring wheat field. Here is a macro shot of it.

Lightning

A nasty thunderstorm rolled into town last night and I didnt miss the opportunity to get some lightning shots. With a new camera I came up with a new strategy. I would alternate cameras, a five second capture with the canon s5 and a 5 second capture with the s2. This way I would not be a victim to bad timing. It worked out perfectly. The Top one is from the new camera and the lower one is from the old one.

using my gift

I recently received a new camera as a gift from my grandpa, Don over at slackwater. It's the Canon powershot s5 IS, my old camera was the S2 IS. The S5 has 8 maga pixels of resolution and many more advanced features that I have yet to discover. Thank you very much for the upgrade Grandpa Don!
I took some test shots with the new camera and paused my 2008 San Diego trip series to show you some views from the end of Wiley Willows drive.

San Diego wild animal park : Sky Watch

A group of flamingos stand contented in their pond. This is my last post from the wild animal park for right now. over the weekend I am going to take a short break from my 2008 San Diego trip series. Then It'll resume on Monday with shots from Sea World. Thanks to everyone who commented on my San Diego wild animal park series. Have a great weekend everyone!
To see more sky watch shots visit tom here.

San Diego wild animal park : Macaws

You can actually walk into the aviaries at the wild animal park. One of these macaws was a little camera shy but the other posed for this shot. This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

San Diego wild animal park : Tortoise

Exactly one month ago today we boarded a plane and headed to San Diego. I am proud to still be posting pictures of the trip. In fact this picture is just from day 2. This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.
This tortoise looked right at home at the wild animal park. I was surprised to hear the zookeeper say that I could come back in 50 years and this guy would still be here. Some land tortoises have a lifespan of over 150 years.

San Diego wild animal park : giraffe statue

This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series. Amongst all the real giraffes there was a giraffe statue at the wild animal park. This odd angle of it made it a perfect fit for Monday odd shots.
if you want to join or see other odd shots visit Katney's blog

San Diego wild animal park : elephants

The wild animal park also had a giant elephant enclosure. This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

Here's a close up.

San Diego wild animal park : Ducks

I don't think these guys were a part of th park, They were there for the free food.
This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series.

San Diego wild animal park : Sky Watch Friday

This is a part of my 2008 San Diego trip series. The flagpole at the entrance of the wild animal park. To see more sky watch shots visit tom here.