World Wildlife Day

I noticed that today was WORLD WILDLIFE DAY, and yeah, that made me think of my wildlife images ... Although I started out shooting mostly TRAVEL photography, you know, starting back in 1973, while on my first motorcycle cross-country adventure (NY to AZ via Chicago), and then, starting in 1983, when I got married to a woman who joined the Army after college, and yeah, when I started shooting for the military as a volunteer, until we got over to Germany in 1985, when yeah, I got a "REAL" job as a "REAL" photographer for the Department of the Army!

That was when I really "got into it"!

Mostly, I worked in a studio, but I also got out and worked with the people I hung out with, SOLDIERS! Took trips, photographed some of their training, whatever I could find. And yes, I did take a few "wildlife" images back then as well ...

It really started down in The Everglades, and of course the different zoos, with my students, both in Georgia, and then of course, right here in North Carolina ... But yeah, then I really got into it when I found out that there are real, live, elk, "just down I-40 West", near Asheville.

Say what?

Yeah, really! Made several trips over there over the years!

Then there were those GRIZZLIES up there in Alaska ... Yeah, that was something! They got, like, REAL CLOSE! Wildest shoot EVER!

And of course those SANDHILL CRANES, out there in New Mexico! Yeah! Several times!

Oh! And the TIGERS over in India, now that was cool ... Not that close, but yeah! That was a "good thing"! Sort of ...

But then that got me thinking of other "images" ... And one that I really, really, liked is THIS ONE!

Yeah!

California, baby!

You know, where I was actually born!

Yeah, back, a few years ago, let me check ... 27 Jun 16 to be exact. Yeah, like I said, "a few years ago"!

2016 ...

That was the summer I drove my younger brother out to California ... Yeah, anyway, there we were, right along the coast, driving along enjoying the setting sun ... And me looking for ANYTHING to photograph in that LIGHT!

And I mean ANYTHING!

I tried a couple of cows drinking out of one of those metal tank things ... Yeah, no. That didn't work!

And yeah, the sun wasn't waiting on me!

So I just kept on driving! Hey it was Route 101, right along the coast, there had to be something!

BAM!

A single male elk. Are you serious?

With those antlers? Oh my!

Heaven.

I stopped, got out, and shot like a madman!

OMG!

That HUGE, black cloud rolling by ... Rain falling in the distance ...

I had been looking at it for miles by then ... I just KNEW I had an image, I just needed one more thing, anything!

The elk lifted his head ... BAM!

Got it!

But you know me ... Yeah, let's just say I couldn't lift my finger! I just let 'er rip!

That was the shot of the whole trip!

And yes! A great image for TODAY!

"WORLD WILDLIFE DAY".

Who knew?

What a moment! Like I said, one of the many I have experienced over the years!

Not as close as the grizzlies ...

Not as big as the elk here in North Carolina, , or yeah, as close, but come on! Look at that LIGHT!

And then, there is that whole "The Coast of California" thing! Who knew?

Not me!

And yeah, although I moved away nine months after being born out there in Riverside, yeah, I took my first steps on the train ride coming back East to Washington, DC! I did return twenty-one years later, like I said, going through Infantry School out there on the coast at Camp Pendleton, where yeah, I ran along those hills, like, all the time!

Never saw an elk though! Ever. Don't even remember them being mentioned, again, like EVER!

NEVER.

So yeah, I was surprised when I came across this "image" that day at sunset.

Like I said, or shouted really, "are you kidding me"?

My brother, Mark, who was right there with me, didn't answer me ... Like I said, we were both "caught up in the moment"!

WORLD WILDLIFE DAY.

Never heard of it ... That I can recall this moment, but yeah, glad my computer reminded me ... Perfect!

I haven't seen this image, or talked about it, or ever thought about it for years!

That's the beauty of photography, and making IMAGES!

And yeah, why I "PUSH THE BUTTON"!

"Frozen Moments" that can take you back in time ... Years later.

Love it.

Now, you get out there, and see what memories you can find!

ANYWHERE.

ANYTHING.

ANYTIME.

Just remember RULE NUMBER ONE, baby!

LOOK AT THE LIGHT.

I mean, LOOK AT THE LIGHT!

Then run around like crazy trying to find a subject, any subject, TO COMPLETE THE IMAGE! But yeah, who knew there were ELK out there, you know, for a guy that lives in North Carolina, and grew up in Up-State New York ...

But yeah, turns out, that yeah, there are elk right "down I-40W", like right here in North Carolina! And yes! I have photographed them many, many, times ...

So yes, I have seen, and photographed elk before, but yeah, not in THAT LIGHT, and place, and time!

West Coast, California Sunset, baby!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

I know I will ... You know, NOW!

I have THIS image.

On my website.

And still have my memories ...

Perfect.

In fact, I remember this day, 3 Mar, as get this! The day I joined the Marines, back in 1976!

Semper Fi.

Bam!

Enjoy.