Photography
grrlscientist | February 29, 2008tags: animals, leucistic moose, Alces alces, zoology, Image of the Day
Leucistic Moose, Alces alces.
Image: orphaned [larger size].
laelaps | February 29, 2008
There are a number of large carnivores in Africa, but each obtains prey by different methods. Cheetahs, for instance, make a mad dash after their prey but can only keep up a high-speed chase for a short time, while wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are endurance hunters. Much like wolves, a pack can chase prey over long distances and they are among the most successful predators out of the large African carnivores.
grrlscientist | February 28, 2008tags: whiptail lizard, Cnemidophorus species, subway art, AMNH, NYC, NYCLife
I think this is a whiptail lizard, Cnemidophorus species (can you name the species?)
as portrayed in tiles on the stairway of the NYC subway stop (A-B-C)
at 81st and Central Park West. (ISO, no zoom, no flash).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [wallpaper size].
Read more about the AMNH tile artworks and see the AMNH tile artworks photographic archives -- with all the animals identified.
grrlscientist | February 28, 2008tags: astronomy, South Pacific Ocean, sunset, hubble telescope, Image of the Day
Sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Image: NASA (2007). [wallpaper size].
laelaps | February 28, 2008
Large zoos have a number of different methods for presenting animals (large carnivores, especially) to the public, but the "pit" set-up is perhaps my least favorite. The lion (Panthera leo) exhibit at the National Zoo, for instance, is a a huge, deep pit with several tiers on it, the edge of the island being separated from the pit wall by a moat. The lions can't get out, but there isn't much preventing anyone from falling in, an event that isn't likely to occur but will definitely be dangerous if it does. Likewise, the pits put the animals further away from visitors than could be achieved in…
bioephemera | February 27, 2008Klingle Ford Bridge Wreck, 1925
National Photo Company Collection
Courtesy of Shorpy: proof that even in 1925, traffic on Connecticut Avenue was hell.
This wreck occurred about a mile or so from my apartment, near the National Zoo. As a work of art, it's uninspiring. But somehow its placement within my personal territory gives it a certain poignant fascination, a sort of urban archaeological authority.
John Updike recently wrote a book review for the New Yorker on "the art of snapshots," in which he said,
My own shoeboxes of curling, yellowing snapshots derive their fascination almost…
grrlscientist | February 27, 2008tags: monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, subway art, AMNH, NYC, NYCLife
Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus,
as portrayed in tiles on the stairway of the NYC subway stop (A-B-C)
at 81st and Central Park West. (ISO, no zoom, no flash).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [wallpaper size].
Read more about the AMNH tile artworks and see the AMNH tile artworks photographic archives -- with all the animals identified.
laelaps | February 27, 2008
Even though it has a blurry spot, this is one of my favorite photographs of the orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) at the Philadelphia Zoo. The enclosure for the animals wasn't a very good proxy for their native habitat, but it's possible (even likely) that the orangutan will become extinct within my lifetime. As a professor of mine who studied them once told my class, if you want to see them in the wild, do not delay.
grrlscientist | February 26, 2008tags: monarch butterfly caterpillar, Danaus plexippus, subway art, AMNH, NYC, NYCLife
Caterpillar of monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus,
as portrayed in tiles on the stairway of the NYC subway stop (A-B-C)
at 81st and Central Park West. (ISO, no zoom, no flash).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [wallpaper size].
Read more about the AMNH tile artworks and see the AMNH tile artworks photographic archives -- with all the animals identified.
laelaps | February 26, 2008
Back in elementary school, I was told the great dividing line between tortoises and turtles was that turtles are aquatic and tortoises are terrestrial. Obviously there are exceptions to this rule to greater or lesser degrees, but the first time I saw a Galapagos tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus) wallowing in a pool at the Philadelphia Zoo I was a bit surprised. This is a normal behavior for these giant tortoises, though, and they seem to enjoy spending time in the bath.
grrlscientist | February 25, 2008tags: NYC, glass and sky, Lincoln Center skyscrapers, photography, NYC through my eye
Glass and Sky #3.
(Lincoln Center skyscrapers).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [larger view].
Yesterday, it was quite cold and breezy in NYC, but the conditions were superb for photographing the city, especially in the afternoon, when I captured some lovely images of Lincoln Center skyscrapers illuminated by the dying sun. This is my favorite of the three "Glass and Sky" images I am sharing with you here. I especially like it because of the contrasting colors of the buildings and their placement in the image…
grrlscientist | February 25, 2008tags: NYC, glass and sky, Lincoln Center skyscrapers, photography, NYC through my eye
Glass and Sky #2.
(Lincoln Center skyscrapers. This particular building is a residence -- either an apartment or condominium).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [larger view].
Yesterday, it was quite cold and breezy in NYC, but the conditions were superb for photographing the city, especially in the afternoon, when I captured some lovely images of skyscrapers illuminated by the dying sun.
grrlscientist | February 25, 2008tags: NYC, glass and sky, Lincoln Center skyscrapers, photography, NYC through my eye
Glass and Sky #1.
(Lincoln Center skyscrapers).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [larger view].
Yesterday, it was quite cold and breezy in NYC, but the conditions were superb for photographing the city, especially in the afternoon, when I captured some lovely images of Lincoln Center skyscrapers illuminated by the dying sun.
grrlscientist | February 25, 2008tags: NYC, 72nd street subway station, photography, NYC through my eye
NYC subway stations at 72nd and Broadway (foreground; the 1-2-3 trains stop here).
You can see some snow is still present.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [larger view].
I captured this image yesterday in the late afternoon. One thing that I find fascinating about NYC buildings is the close proximity of old and new buildings. For example, the subway stations are old buildings along with another one, on the far right (which is being worked on, as you can see), but the buildings to the left and in the center (background) are…
grrlscientist | February 25, 2008tags: silverfish, Lepisma saccharina, subway art, AMNH, NYC, NYCLife
This beastie is probably a silverfish, Lepisma saccharina,
as portrayed in tiles on the stairway of the NYC subway stop (A-B-C)
at 81st and Central Park West. (ISO, no zoom, no flash).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [wallpaper size].
Read more about the AMNH tile artworks and see the AMNH tile artworks photographic archives -- with all the animals identified.
laelaps | February 25, 2008
Most of the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) photos I post here are of an older female named Zeff at the Bronx zoo, but during my earlier visits I often saw another of the several individuals rotated through the public viewing enclosures. The tiger pictured above is named Sasha, a relatively young male that has usually been out for viewing during my visits. It can be somewhat difficult to tell individuals apart, but as I've said before each tiger has their own unique stripe pattern, and even the marks on the side of their faces can be useful in telling one animal from another.
grrlscientist | February 24, 2008tags: damselfly, odonota, subway art, AMNH, NYC, NYCLife
I think this is a Damselfly (but which species?)
as portrayed in tiles on the stairway up to the ground level of the NYC subway stop (A-B-C)
at 81st and Central Park West. (ISO, no zoom, no flash).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008.. [wallpaper size].
Read more about the AMNH tile artworks and see the AMNH tile artworks photographic archives -- with all the animals identified.
laelaps | February 24, 2008
A baby giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) peers over a fence. The species name of the giraffe comes from a mixing of "camel" and "leopard," giraffes exhibiting a body shape similar to a camel but the spots of a leopard. This sort of nomenclature also has its root in older, long discarded beliefs that some species could be made via unnatural matings between existing species. How a leopard would be able to successfully get a camel in the mood, though, I wouldn't hazard a guess.
grrlscientist | February 23, 2008tags: Berlin Archaeopteryx cast, birds, photography, subway art, AMNH, NYC, NYCLife
A cast of the Berlin Archeopteryx specimen (including moronic graffiti)
as portrayed in bronze on the walls of the NYC downtown subway stop (A-B-C)
at 81st and Central Park West. (ISO, no zoom, no flash).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [wallpaper size].
I took a brief break from the AMNH tile artworks to show you this bronze cast on the downtown platform. I have repeatedly photographed this and the other bronze casts that are there, hoping that I can get some decent images to share with you. Unfortunately, this…
grrlscientist | February 23, 2008tags: Elizabeth Dodd, Moonrise over chimney rock, photography, photoessay
Poet and writer, Elizabeth Dodd, and Moonrise over Chimney Rock.
Image: Dave Rintoul, KSU [wallpaper size].
I have mentioned Elizabeth Dodd's poetry on this blog in the past, so I thought I'd share this photoessay of hers, Moonrise Over Chimney Rock, that was recently published in Notre Dame Magazine. Elizabeth Dodd teaches creative writing at Kansas State University. Thanks to photographer Dave Rintoul, Professor of Biology at KSU, I have posted the images here that pertain to Elizabeth's piece, so you might want to…