Hyena

I have so many great photos from our South Africa trip.  I can’t help but post more and more photos from that journey.  I hope you don’t get tired of seeing them.  On this safari, we had some wonderful luck and found lots of animals including a pack of hyenas.  They didn’t seem to care that we drove up to them.  It was as if we didn’t exist.  They ignored us and just went about their business.  I assume he had eaten recently, since it looks like his fur is red from blood around his mouth.

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Stellenbosch

This is such an amazingly pretty little college town in the Western Cape region of South Africa.  The architecture in Stellenbosch was this great Dutch style going back hundreds of years.  We spent an entire day out sampling wine and touring the country side.  We had a great day in this area.  Of course, I snapped hundreds (maybe 1,000+) of photos throughout the day like this one. 

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Snack Shack

While in Mexico, I spent less time than normal shooting photos.  I just needed some down time from everything.  From work, stress, the Internet, etc…  So I took some photos, but probably only 25% of the total I would normally take.   I went out one night after dinner to capture some pics.  Tonight’s post is from that photo walk.  This is the resort poolside snack shack with a full moon above it.  I love the sky in this photo.

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Blue Iguana Tequila Bar

I honestly don’t remember which Carnival Cruise ship this photo is from.  I’ve had this photo sitting on my hard drive for a while just waiting to share it with you some day.  Well, today is the day.  Believe it or not, I didn’t have a drink at this spot.  But I liked the looks and design of this spot. 

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Super Bowl Sunday

Well today is a national holiday here in the United States.  Over a hundred million citizens within the United States and millions more across the world will be watching the big game tonight, as the Patriots take on the Eagles. 

I realize that most of the world (outside of the New England area) hate the Patriots.  I won’t rehash all the reasons why….we all know them already and there have been tons of articles already written on the Patriots (for and against).  I’ve been a Tom Brady fan going back to his University of Michigan days.  As you all know, I’m also a Lions fan and have been my whole life.  So you know, I don’t give up on my teams or players. 

I’ll let haters hate and keep cheering for Brady.  He’ll already go down as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), so it doesn’t matter whether he wins or loses tonight.  Regardless I’ll be cheering for the Patriots.  We have a Giant Teddy Bear, that we call GB (for Giant Bear) in our living room.  Today he cheers for the Patriots as well (see below).

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Palm Tree Reflections

Another photo from the Grand Bahia Principle resort near Tulum Mexico.  I took this photo this yesterday morning just after the sunrise, but before the morning shadows disappeared.  We’ve had a great time, but if I was rating this resort…… well, I’d rather not say.  Anyway, I always enjoy getting up early on vacation to catch sunrise photos and I try to get creative so that it isn’t always the same standard view of the ocean with a large ball of orange in the distance.

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Baby Goose

While in Cape Town (before their water troubles), we went to their botanical gardens and found more animals.  These two little cuties were following their mother through the flowers.  I believe these are Egyptian Geese.  Maybe in the future I’ll post a photo of the mother who was also pretty.

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Grand Bahia Principe Tulum

MJ and I had another great trip to Mexico. This time we stayed at the Grand Bahia Principe resort that includes five unique resorts on one campus.  As a guest, you get access to most of the areas at all five resorts with a few exceptions.  On the morning of this photo, we were hanging out at the pool and beach area of the Tulum resort. 

Before traveling to Mexico, I researched their drone laws/regulations to find out what I can and can’t do with my drone.  The Mexican laws are basically a copy of the United States laws, which means you can fly a drone anywhere if it is five miles away from an airport, it is within visual site and it is below 400 feet.  So I’m good to go!!

As I was flying along the beach, over the ocean and above the resort (respectfully high above the resort so that it wouldn’t interrupt any guest) of course the Drone Police (who also sometimes work as tripod police), came over to tell me I’m not allowed to fly my drone in this area.  There are no laws to back his claim up.  Just like there are no laws preventing the use of tripods, but lots of security make that claim.  I personally think this is an ego thing.  Neither of them (tripods or drone) hurt anyone, but it makes the security personal feel important to tell photographers “no”.  As if I’m putting the lives of the guests in danger as part of a large secret government spying program or something….  Ugh….  Regardless, this all took place at the end of my last flight, so I was basically done anyway.  But I don’t get it.  I’m having fun as a paying guest.  I’m not hurting anyone or anything.  I’m being respectful with it.  Again Ugh!!   

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JuJu

JuJu Smith-Schuster had a great rookie year with the Steelers.  On top of some great performances, he has a flair for the dramatic and quickly became a fan favorite.  I captured this photo of him in late December at Heinz Field.  @juju

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Lioness

I’ve been trying not to over load you with photos from our South Africa trip.  As I’ve said numerous times, MJ would be happy with one safari animal photo after another.  So today’s post should make her happy… Will it make the rest of you happy???  Its doubtful.

We found this Lion during one of our safaris.  She was actually with another female lion.  They walked right towards us and cross the road in front of us (maybe 10 feet away).  A few minutes later, we watched them cross paths with a few Cape Buffalo, who turned and forced the Lions to keep going.  I thought the Lions might win that encounter, but I was wrong.  Apparently, a few of the Cape Buffalo can easily fight off the Lions.  As you can tell from the big scar on her leg, she’s been in some fights before.  

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Solitary

I hope you’re having a great Tuesday.  Forgive me for not having much to say tonight.  I guess I’m just fried right now with little to say or I can’t think of anything to say…..  So, enjoy this photo I took while Blair and I explored an abandoned prison.  This photo is from the solitary confinement (max security) area.

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Brady

There are two kinds of NFL fans in the world.   A small number of Patriots’ fans (thus they love Tom Brady) and then there is everyone else.  My guess it is 10/90 (love/hate).  I’m not from the New England area, but I fall in the 10%.  As you know, I’m a Lions fan.  But outside of the Lions, I’ll cheer for Patriots…only because of Tom.  He’s a University of Michigan guy and because he is just great…. So, I’ll cheer him!! 

Btw, I took this photo of Brady last October while the Patriots were in Pittsburgh.

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Vista Piano Bar

We have a couple of trips coming up soon and as you can imagine, I’m ready!!!  One of our trips is our normal winter/spring cruise.  We won’t be on the Carnival Vista, but it’ll be a great ship.  I always fine them and the venues inside to be architecturally interesting.

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Garden Of The Gods

In early December, I got the chance to visit Colorado Springs.  What a nice city and location.  I was impressed!!  Right outside my hotel balcony was this amazing view of Garden Of The Gods.  I took this photo in the early morning hoping to catch the sun shining off the mountains

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Alamo

This has to be the most photographed spot in Texas.  If it isn’t, I don’t know what would be photographed more.  I captured this pic the last time I was in that area.  This was a beautiful Saturday afternoon in San Antonio.  The place was crawling with tourist.  So this is a combination of about 10 photos, plus the magic of Photoshop to make the tourist disappear.  Otherwise, good luck trying to find this spot empty of people standing in the way.

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US Navy F-18 Hornets

At last weekend’s Steelers playoff game, these 2 jets flew over the stadium after the national anthem was played.  I think these are US Navy F-18 Hornets, but I’m not 100% sure.  Do you know?

By the way, this is another example of minimalistic photography.  What is that you ask?  It is a style using a minimum amount of components such as color, shape, line, and texture.   It is highly subjective and the meaning is up to the perception of the viewer. 

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84

My football season is over with the end of the Steelers playoff run.  I’m sure I’ll share photos from this season with you from time to time, at least until next season.  With that said, here is a photo of Antonio Brown from last Saturday’s game.  Of the remaining teams, I’m pulling for the Patriots.

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1-15-18

I hope you have a great Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  With all the ugliness in our world right now (you know who and what I mean), it’s nice to know that Dr. King and people like Dr. King have been and are among us.  He pushed for nonviolence, racial equality, understanding, and eliminating poverty while maintaining his principles that everyone regardless of color or creed are equal members of the human family.  There is a reason why he is the only non-president to have a national holiday dedicated in his honor and non-president memorialized on the Great Wall in the United States capital.  Everyone from our current President on down to our newest member, can learn from Dr. King. 

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Vervet Monkey

We saw lots of these Vervet Monkeys on safari in Kruger National Park.  They travel in group from 10 to up to 70 monkeys at a time.  The juvenile members were so cute.  They would run, play, pick on each other… 

Here’s an interesting fact…. The males have blue testicles (blue balls..... see the photos below).  Apparently, the dominant male within the group has the vibrant color.  Why???  I don’t know.  That’s just what our guide said and as you can see below, they are definitely a robin egg blue color.  Note, I didn’t modify the photo. 

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Bortles

It should be interesting this weekend to see how the Jaguars do against the Steelers.  Earlier this season, the Jags beat up on the Steelers pretty good.  I think we’ll see the opposite this time around.  I think it will end up 28-13 with the Steelers winning.  I took this photo of Blake Bortles last October.

Below you can see a photo of my peers

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Below are some of my photographer peers at the NFL games.  This crew has a unique sense of humor...  Don't you love those great tan vest they make us wear???