Posts Tagged ‘Critters’
Nuts
at the Central Park Zoo – photo by Mitch Waxman
There really is nothing to say on this one.
many, and varied
at the Central Park Zoo – photo by Mitch Waxman
Curious variation and variegation typifies the avian specie. Its ability to specialize and concurrently speciate around those adaptations is surely one of the great wonders of the world. Would that it were possible to see the great birds of earlier times similarly on display in modern times, like the Titanis Walleri.
from wikipedia
It was 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) tall and weighed approximately 150 kilograms (330 lb), but with large variance (perhaps indicating strong sexual dimorphism). Though its head has not been found, it certainly would have been large, with a huge, axe-like beak, as in its relatives.
The wings were small and could not have been used for flight. The wing bones articulated in an unusual joint-like structure, suggesting the digits could flex to some degree. It also had a relatively rigid wrist, which would not have allowed the hand to fold back against the arm to the same degree as other birds. This led one scientist, R.M. Chandler, to suggest that the wings may have supported some type of clawed, mobile hand similar to the hands of non-avian theropod dinosaurs. However, it was later pointed out that this wing joint is not in fact unique, and is present in seriamas (modern members of the same bird group to which Titanis belonged), which do not have any specialized grasping hands.
presiding dryads
at the Central Park Zoo – photo by Mitch Waxman
As you are reading this, a feverish effort by your humble narrator to tuck the household into neat little boxes is under way. Glorious secretions of treasure and exertions of profound manual labor are under way. The scene around here resembles the anticlimax of “how the Grinch Stole Christmas” wherein the protagonist straps his little dog to an overladen sleigh, although I believe that my little dog Zuzu is merely humoring me and plans to just let me pull the thing up the hill.
dusk of the corridor
at the Central Park Zoo – photo by Mitch Waxman
Using the same vignette technique discussed yesterday, but this time with a distant focus and lowered POV. Notice how the birds seem to take on gargantuan size, as if they are very far away? If a few model railroad trees and structures were tossed in, wouldn’t this look like a mid 60’s Godzilla set?
a chaotic whirl
at the Central Park Zoo – photo by Mitch Waxman
It is a difficult proposition, shooting into what is essentially a giant fish tank, which is out doors and in the presence of a crowd. I experimented with extending the lens hood on my lens (one of those flexible silicone rubber sorts) and placing it flush on the glass. I left the lens at its widest angle and lowest f stop and shot at a ludicrous 3200 iso speed. I think it’s kind of neat with the vignetting forming the circular pattern.
The Newtown Pentacle 