The National Zoo

Here a White-naped Crane gives a photographer a good brisk inspection.

A Dama Gazelle. Compare the hardness of the horns with the softness of the ears. Ears are laid back in a situational monitor mode.

Better crop of the Dama Gazelle???

I love silhouettes either positive or negative. Really highlights the lines of the animal. Notice the slight bulge on the muzzle between the eye and the tip of the nose. I wonder what that is about. They all have it.

I take a lot of 'pattern' pictures. Here I highlight the long legs of the Dama Gazelle with an unexpected twist. Note the knees and bone structure of the legs. Note how they are so optimized with the skin stretched almost directly on the bone. There is very little fat.

Another look at the legs of the Dama Gazelle. Note the bone structure around the knee of the rear leg and the graceful taper of the hamstring muscle.

Note here the extention of the lower leg bone where the hamstring muscle is attached. This added length gives extra leverage to propel the the gazelle.

This gazelle is giving the photographer a skeptical look.

A contrast of the graceful curve of the horn and the straight stiff ear. And the hard horn versus the soft fuzziness of the ear. The general beauty and temperment of the amimal are apparent.

Another silhouette from the back. The shape and texture of the horns is captured.

This is sort of a novel picture with the unexpected rear foot scratching an itch under the ear. But it is interesting for another reason. Note the false lip under the real lip. What is that about??

Baby still nurses but mom is not so sure. The mom seems to tolerate but not invite this.

And the baby girl. She is so cute. We love her.

This Oryx has a stoic demenor.

And the Oryx gives the photographer a skeptical look.

Oryx executing flehmen response or flehmening to check the estrus status of his female counterpart.

Do you ever pause to really look and an animal. I am serious. Do you just stop and contemplate an animal. Pictures allow us to do that. To capture a moment in time and observe and reflect on the nature and outward character manifestations of the animal. This Oryx is beautiful. every aspect, even every hair of its coat seem inevitable. There is a kindness in the eyes. An innocence. An honesty. Every part of their bodies seem so well formed and purposeful. I think when we look at this animal we sense an inner peace that we seek for ourselves. A wholeness. A completeness. This is true for many animals. Pause. Observe. Contemplate. Take a moment to maybe make eye contact with the animal. Contemplate one another. Really enjoy the presence of the animal. The Oryx pause frequently in the yard. Eye contact is common. It will be a moment well spent.

Sitatunga grazes on hay. I need better pictures of these fellows.

A Cluded Leopard wakes in time for a picture.

A Grevy's Zebra. An interesting study in black and white.

Our young male Asian Elephant does some limit testing. He is the happiest animal at the zoo as best I can tell.

A Wattled Crane poses for his/her close-up.

The Wattled Crrane in profile.