Fur, feathers, scales and skin are our subjects today here at Earth Images. We have thirteen great shots, that are worthy of our attention. They range from close-up, to action, to environmental, or better said, a landscape photo with wildlife as part of the composition. I love variety, and even when I limit the imagery shown here to only nature and then only wildlife, I always look for a variety of subjects and a variety of photographic styles.

Vineet Pahwa, also known as Billy The Traveler starts us out with nice shot of a Day Gecko Lizard. The pose and expression of this close-up couldn’t be better if it was a professional model posing with intent. It would make a good representative/mascot for an insurance company.

Vaneet’s (Billy’s) second shot is all the more spectacular. A young Humpback Whale frolics with an adult, perhaps mom, or an older juvenile. I love the clarity of this image and once again, you could not have gotten a better pose if you told them what to do.

Let’s stay underwater with this magnificent image from photographer Joaquin Gutierrez. I don’t know what kind of fish this is but a close-up with that expression is a priceless combination. Great work!

Wildlife photographer/star Charles Glatzer never misses in providing us with top flight pictures and this Loon image speaks for itself. Awesome.

Dana K. made this image of a Grizzly Bear and once again what a great pose and expression. This current generation of wildlife photographers is doing a nice job of waiting for those perfect moments.

All wildlife pictures do not have to be close-ups and I have always loved landscape photos that contain wild animals, as a component of the final composition.

David C. Shultz made the photo and I believe he presents workshops in Yellowstone N. P. which is the location of today’s photo.

There’s nothing like a Leopard in your face to keep us awake and Michael Poliza captured a nice shot of this beauty. You “almost” want to pet him.

I must admit I had never heard of a Tree Kangaroo before viewing this image. I imagine the name exists because this critter either lives in or spends time in trees (obviously), and it is a marsupial. I want to thank E. Eckenrode for this endearing picture.

I think we’ve all seen these frame filling shots of a Peacock displaying its tail feathers. They always make great photos and I’ve even made a few of my own. This shot, due either to zoom panning or a software editing technique, blurs the bird down to its face. My guess would be this is a Photoshop filter that’s been applied. I am often not a fan of such things but I love the result here so let’s give Kevin Barry a round of applause for recognizing a good thing when he sees it. It is a nice artistic interpretation.

This absolutely stunning image of this beautiful European Bee Eater came from Google Animal Images. Wow!

Jackopo Rigotti made both of these spectacular bird action shots. The first is Hoopoe Bird with lunch, and the second (beautiful) picture is a Hummingbird of some sort as it dives from a Cattail. Great work!

I can tell you right now, I could stare at the Hummingbird image, and the Bee Eater photo all day. Perfection!!! As I have said many times before, wildlife, especially birds, are art. We just need to recognize it and be competent enough to share it with the world.

And finally we wind things up with this photo by Burrard-Lucas of a captive (zoo) Orangutan as it tells all of us, just what it thinks of zoos. A wonderful picture, touching but with humor.

I have mentioned before that I have taught workshops and made pictures in the small zoo that resides in my hometown. I have shown pictures of the great old male Lion that lived there, but I don’t believe I have ever mentioned the Orangutan that I was proud to call friend. I have no pictures of my pal who was/is a young female and lived in a large glass, indoor enclosure with her mom. I was there to photograph some monkeys and she noticed me, and came to the glass to watch what I was doing. When I finished I went to the enclosure and pressed my nose against the glass. She had moved to the back of the cage, but when she saw me she got up and came straight to me. She did so in a gentle non-aggressive manner. I talked to her and she listened intently. Finally I spread out my fingers on my left hand, and pressed them against the glass. She took her right “hand” and spread out her “fingers”, and placed them against the glass, taking care to match my hand finger by finger. I returned to that zoo three or four times after that and I always stopped in to visit with my friend. No matter what she was doing she would stop, and come over to the glass to greet me.  I always kept her in my thoughts and heart, and hopefully, she never forgot me either. Friends come in all sizes, shapes and of all species.

Have a very special day,                                                                                                              Wayne