As Happy As a Clam?

As the day comes to an end and the tide retreats, Thai families gather on the beach of Ao Nang to dig for clams.

This photo made me wonder about the saying "as happy as a clam."

Googling it led to a nice page with the explanation that the original version of the saying was "as happy as a clam at high water," which makes much more sense: when the tide is high, the clams are protected from predators. 

Amsterdam

Bikes, canals, tiny houses and lots of rain that prevented me from taking good photos.

Why Do Zebras Have Stripes?

Have you ever wondered why zebras have stripes?

Is it simply nature's whim or is there a deeper purpose to the intriguing white-and-black pattern?

It seems that the scientists don't know for certain, so they came up with four theories aimed at explaining the phenomenon.

The first theory claims that the stripes dazzle and confuse the predators, especially when zebras are in a group. The markings work as an optical illusion making it more difficult for predators to pick out a target.

According to the second theory the stripes serve as a camouflage in grassy habitat.

The third theory, my personal favorite, postulates that the stripes, which are unique to each animal, help zebras recognize each other and promote social communication.

The newest, fourth, theory claims that horseflies don't like the way light bounces off the zebras' stripes and, therefore, they find zebras unappetizing.

What's your theory? :)

Social communication is all I'm saying.

Street Art in Chicago

Of all the cities I've ever visited Chicago has the coolest street art. We liked it so much that we would even consider moving there for a few months, as long as they are summer months.

Storm over Grand Canyon

My favorite time to photograph nature and people is during the "Golden Hour" (a.k.a. Magic Hour)–the time just before sunset or just after sunrise, when the light is softer and warmer in hue.

Watching the sun slowly and graciously move down towards the horizon and grace the earth with its warm glow, also warms up my insides and fills me up with feelings of happiness, peacefulness and gratitude. It's better than hours of meditation.

Imagine how happy and grateful I felt, both as a person and as a photographer, when I witnessed a localized sunset storm with lightnings and rainbow over the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, while enjoying a warm summer evening from the peaceful northern rim of the canyon. The experience of a lifetime.

Daylight Saving Time?

No, thank you!

I understand why the Daylight Saving Time was introduced almost a century ago, but I don't understand why it's still being observed in the modern times, despite overwhelming data that it's actually harmful to our health. I'm not going to go into detail on the subject, as there are plenty of news articles that have done it recently: link & link. But I want to voice my concern and encourage you to do the same.

Young Elephant Seals are also skeptical about Daylight Saving Time

 

Rocks in the Water

So rugged yet so peaceful–Olympic National Park coast in Washington.

New Navajo Falls

New Navajo Falls (aka Upper Navajo Falls) is the first of five spectacular waterfalls in Havasu Canyon in the Grand Canyon. It doesn't look like your typical Grand Canyon picture, does it?

Another Day, Another Hot Spring

Doesn't it look o' so inviting?

Hot Spring, Yellowstone National Park

Happy MPI

Oh, happy times!

Pharrell Williams's song and the video perfectly capture how I remember my PhD time at MPI-CBG in Dresden.

Many thanks to all my friends/co-workers that made this time one of the best in my life!

Geysers of Yellowstone

There are more than 300 geysers and about 10'000 other thermal features in Yellowstone National Park. Each one of them prettier than the other. A photographer's paradise.

Zion Canyon

Here's one of my "old" photos of Zion Canyon, taken about five years ago with my first DSLR. The photo isn't bad but what strikes me when I look at it is that I can take so MUCH better photos right now. Here's to progress and continuous learning!

It's All about Communication

Do chameleons change color? Yes, they do!

But, contrary to common misconception, they don't change color to blend in with their surroundings. Instead, they change color to signal their mood, e.g., their stress and aggression levels, or willingness to engage in mating behavior.

A green chameleon signals that it's in a good mood.

A bright yellow chameleon signals stress and anger.

A colorful, rainbow-like chameleon signals that it's ready to mate.

Hmm, I guess that means that the chameleon that I caught to photograph was either stressed or angry with me (or both).

Sorry, chameleon, I didn't understand your language then. I promise to be more considered in the future.

PS The hairy hand isn't mine :-p

Grand Teton at Sunrise

Views like this one make it worth to wake up at 5 A.M.

The Three Teats of Grand Teton National Park

Trivia of today: the name of the Teton mountain range is abbreviation of its original name "les trois tétons" or as we would say in English "the three teats."

Teats or no teats, to me, the Teton Range is the quintessential mountain range–tall, majestic, rugged, seemingly inaccessible, and breathtakingly beautiful.