Up Above the World So High

Up Above the World So High
... like a raptor in the sky.

I snapped this fellow during my balloon ride above Safari Park (https://plus.google.com/+RobinGriggsWood/posts/7LVbDHgzisW). He was soaring along with us (maybe he likes balloons ... or maybe he wanted to attack us ... ;o)).

It was nice to have the opportunity to shoot at eye level to their flight, and see the top of the bird instead ... ;o)). Just a #RaptorButtSaturday  click for #SeagullButtsInDisguise . I mean, if you were a seagull, wouldn't you want to wear a raptor costume?! ... ;oD

Actually, while I was rather close to the bird up there, I didn't get close enough to ask it if it was a raptor or not. All my research says it is most likely, Cathartes Aura, a relative of the Condor.

––––
If you've made it this far, please know that there is NO such photography theme as #SeagullButtSaturday. The following people, sometimes posting to the #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus, are actually the #FunniestNonCuratorsOnGplus.

Robin Griggs Wood Ursula Klepper Christin McLeod Sassi Sassmannshausen Lauri Novak Richard Ball Craig Szymanski Melissa Beagle Ellie Kennard Cora Triton Steve Savoie Pam Wolfe +Joy Mum Jon Cassill Tom McGowan Annie Irving Diana Boyd Debby Moran Alex Lapidus Lou McCorkle Rob Lopes Kimmetal Smith Bette Kauffman Liz C Jacqueline Hodsdon Darion Jackman Steven Kennard Sharon Stone Dawn Siadatan Sumit Sen Jasbir S. Randhawa Gazzaroonii T. John Wade Dave Bell Swee Oh Leo Deegan Nancy Battis Vita Patrick Kelly Marilyn Benham Mari Luukkonen Lora Lee Chapman Giselle Savoie Carin Bruce David Q. Cohen Gernot Glaeser Maureen Roberson Brian Grzelewski cobalt please Darcee McCutcheon Annelies Jansen Rachel Ferris Margaret Tompkins Jan Vermeulen Christi Nielsen Jaana Nyström

Real themes:
#birds4all curated by Walter Soestbergen Ricky L Jones & Birds4All
#birdloversandwildlife curated by Robert SKREINER  BIRD Lovers & WILDLIFE
#birdsgallery  with thanks to Heinrich Wagner


Must-have hashtags (for hackling the hashtag-haters … ;o))
#SeagullButtSaturday (duh!)
#SeagullButtShots
#SeagullButts
#notatheme
#SeagullButtsInDisguise (for other birds; a fine way to use up all those bird shots you took that are "not quite what you were shooting for" and currently languishing on your hard drive.)
#Gulluminati (what the group of non-curators have come to be known as)
#FunniestNonthemeOnGplus (because, isn't it?! … ;oD)
#Splatterday (Jasbir's invention, applicable for, ahem, some conditional shots … ;o7)

#rgwoodpost #Gulluminati #Gullarazzi #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus
#googleplusphotos #hqspbirds #btpbirdpro #birdsgallery

My G+ albums: https://sites.google.com/site/rgwphotoalbums/

It was inevitable ...

It was inevitable ...




... total fake! ...  just having a little fun with Leo Deegan, Elizabeth Hahn, Lauri Novak and Dave Bell ... thanks for contributing to my grins this morning, my friends ... :o)))

Leo Deegan ... I think the Google spam-killers have gone crazy-mad withpower and are out of control ... ;o7.

Leo Deegan ... I think the Google spam-killers have gone crazy-mad with power and are out of control ... ;o7.

While I have the screenshot up, if you have the ear of one of the UI developers, there's this phrase at the top that says "Only you can see comments that were removed as spam." ... only, we can't see them here ... unless "you" is 15 and doesn't require a prescription to improve visual capabilities ... ;oD. They are the palest of gray and crossed out! How are we supposed to see them?! I had to click on your profile pic just to make sure it was actually you that Google had singled out in their war against spam... ;o)))

400 feet in a balloon above San Diego's Safari Park. This is a 26-imagestitch of the largest portion of the park.

400 feet in a balloon above San Diego's Safari Park. This is a 26-image stitch of the largest portion of the park.

We had a beautiful day, hanging out with Jenny Loren, Sassi Sassmannshausen and Paula Contreres (Art through the Aperture Photography).

#LandscapePhotography with thanks to Margaret Tompkins Tony Phillips Dave Gaylord Doug Hagadorn Eric Drumm and Landscape Photography

#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #hqsplandscape #BTPLandscapePro #California #SkyPhotography #Travel #TravelPhotography #Sky

Enjoy Spring

Enjoy Spring

Go ahead, give it a big, fat kiss ... ;o))

For those in the lower hemisphere, Fall is rather kiss-worthy, too ... ;o)


#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos   #BTPAnimalPRO   #HQSPAnimals #WildlifeWednesday #giraffe #wildlifewednesday #animalphotography #animals #animallovers

Jewel of Denial

Jewel of Denial

Sorry, little one; no matter how much you argue, you will always be a #seagullbuttindisguise  to the #Gullarazzi .

––––
If you've made it this far, please know that there is NO such photography theme as #SeagullButtSaturday . The following people, sometimes posting to the #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus , are actually the #FunniestNonCuratorsOnGplus .

Robin Griggs Wood Ursula Klepper Christin McLeod Sassi Sassmannshausen Lauri Novak Richard Ball Craig Szymanski Melissa Beagle Ellie Kennard Cora Triton Steve Savoie Pam Wolfe +Joy Mum Jon Cassill Tom McGowan Annie Irving Diana Boyd Debby Moran Alex Lapidus Lou McCorkle Rob Lopes Kimmetal Smith Bette Kauffman Liz C Jacqueline Hodsdon Darion Jackman Steven Kennard Sharon Stone Dawn Siadatan Sumit Sen Jasbir S. Randhawa Gazzaroonii T. John Wade Dave Bell Swee Oh Leo Deegan Nancy Battis Vita Patrick Kelly Marilyn Benham Mari Luukkonen Lora Lee Chapman Giselle Savoie Carin Bruce David Q. Cohen Gernot Glaeser Maureen Roberson Brian Grzelewski cobalt please Darcee McCutcheon Annelies Jansen Rachel Ferris Margaret Tompkins Jan Vermeulen Christi Nielsen Jaana Nyström

Real themes:
#birds4all curated by Walter Soestbergen Ricky L Jones & Birds4All
#birdloversandwildlife curated by Robert SKREINER  BIRD Lovers & WILDLIFE
#birdsgallery  with thanks to Heinrich Wagner


Must-have hashtags (for hackling the hashtag-haters … ;o))
#SeagullButtSaturday (duh!)
#SeagullButtShots
#SeagullButts
#notatheme
#SeagullButtsInDisguise (for other birds; a fine way to use up all those bird shots you took that are "not quite what you were shooting for" and currently languishing on your hard drive.)
#Gulluminati (what the group of non-curators have come to be known as)
#FunniestNonthemeOnGplus (because, isn't it?! … ;oD)
#Splatterday (Jasbir's invention, applicable for, ahem, some conditional shots … ;o7)

#rgwoodpost #Gulluminati #Gullarazzi #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus
#googleplusphotos #hqspbirds #btpbirdpro #birdsgallery #hqsplandscape
My G+ albums: https://sites.google.com/site/rgwphotoalbums/

Family Ties

Family Ties

I'm wondering if this is the growing-up baby from your exquisite shot, Laurie Rubin (https://plus.google.com/+laurierubin/posts/JrSg581fTvE)?

Hanging out in real life with Jenny Loren Sassi Sassmannshausen and Paula Contreres ( Art through the Aperture Photography)





#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos   #BTPAnimalPRO   #HQSPAnimals #ElephantWednesday #elephant #elephants #wildlifewednesday #animalphotography   #babyanimals #animals #animallovers

Trust

Trust

A skill we were all born with.


Hanging out in real life with Jenny Loren Sassi Sassmannshausen and Paula Contreres ( Art through the Aperture Photography)





#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #BTPAnimalPRO #HQSPAnimals #catsallovertheworld #caturdayeveryday #caturday  #catsbigandsmallthebest

Baby Tiger

Baby Tiger

I had the joy to go shooting with Jenny Loren, Sassi Sassmannshausen and Paula Contreres (Art through the Aperture Photography) yesterday. And, through the immense patience of Jenny, we got the opportunity to see the Sumatran tiger cub! (She just kept saying, "I know he'll come out here" ... thanks, Jenny!)

"The cub is the 26th endangered Sumatran tiger born at the Safari Park, and he is the first cub to be hand-raised at the Park since 1984. With the addition of this tiny cub, the Safari Park is now home to seven Sumatran Tigers. There are fewer than 350 Sumatran Tigers in the wild, and that number continues to drop. Scientists estimate that this species could be extinct in its native Sumatra by 2020, unless measures are taken to protect and preserve it.

"Tigers face many challenges in the wild, from loss of habitat to conflicts with humans, but the biggest threat continues to be poaching. Tigers are killed by poachers who illegally sell tiger body parts, mostly for folk remedies. People can help protect wild tigers by avoiding products made with non-sustainable palm oil, an industry that harms tiger habitat; and by refusing to purchase items made from endangered wildlife."

(source: http://zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org)

#ThreatenedThursday

#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #BTPAnimalPRO #HQSPAnimals #catsallovertheworld #caturdayeveryday   #caturday  #catsbigandsmallthebest

”Bright and Beautiful, Great and Small, Wise and Wonderful”

”Bright and Beautiful, Great and Small, Wise and Wonderful”

I finished this one a couple weeks back, and then got so busy, I didn't get a chance to share it then ... ;oD



#rgwoodpost #fantasticandsurrealphotos #DigitalArtSaturday #SurrealArtSaturday #hqspphotoartmanipulation #hqspart #amazing #color #colors #inspiration #digitalart #fantasyart #surrealart #painting   #digitalart #digitalpainting #photoshop #photomanipulation   #mattepainting #fineart #fineartpls   #conceptart #photomanipulator #photomanipulation #artdesign #designs #fantasy #fantasyart #fantasydigitalart #digital #photoshop #creative

This image available for print at http://www.robingriggswood.com/Featured/Fine-Art-Composite/i-qBw3832/buy
Please feel free to ask me,
if you would like any of my images
available for print at robingriggswood.com

If you would like to view my albums here at G+ go to
 ––> https://sites.google.com/site/rgwphotoalbums/

Steadfast Beauty

Steadfast Beauty
How many of you think that Margaret Tompkins is one of the most awesome supporters of our G+ photography community? I certainly do! She is still regularly curating three photography themes here: #LandscapePhotography, #GrassTuesday  and #WaterBirdWednesday  ... she's always been there for us and just keeps on. Here's to you, Margaret, for being the wonderful that you are!


–––

#LandscapePhotography with thanks to Margaret Tompkins Tony Phillips Dave Gaylord Doug Hagadorn Eric Drumm and Landscape Photography
#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #hqsplandscape #BTPLandscapePro #California #SunsetPhotography #Sunset #Travel #TravelPhotography #Sky

"What was Mother Nature thinking when she gave us no ability to plugour ears?!!"

"What was Mother Nature thinking when she gave us no ability to plug our ears?!!"
"Can someone please shut Stella up? ... she's been singing 'It's a Small World' for 4 hours now!"

#BirdWorldProblems  #SeagullButtsInDisguise

––––
If you've made it this far, please know that there is NO such photography theme as #SeagullButtSaturday. The following people, sometimes posting to the #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus, are actually the #FunniestNonCuratorsOnGplus.

Robin Griggs Wood Ursula Klepper Christin McLeod Sassi Sassmannshausen Lauri Novak Richard Ball Craig Szymanski Melissa Beagle Ellie Kennard Cora Triton Steve Savoie Pam Wolfe +Joy Mum Jon Cassill Tom McGowan Annie Irving Diana Boyd Debby Moran Alex Lapidus Lou McCorkle Rob Lopes Kimmetal Smith Bette Kauffman Liz C Jacqueline Hodsdon Darion Jackman Steven Kennard Sharon Stone Dawn Siadatan Sumit Sen Jasbir S. Randhawa Gazzaroonii T. John Wade Dave Bell Swee Oh Leo Deegan Nancy Battis Vita Patrick Kelly Marilyn Benham Mari Luukkonen Lora Lee Chapman Giselle Savoie Carin Bruce David Q. Cohen Gernot Glaeser Maureen Roberson Brian Grzelewski cobalt please Darcee McCutcheon Annelies Jansen Rachel Ferris Margaret Tompkins Jan Vermeulen Christi Nielsen

Real themes:
#birds4all curated by Walter Soestbergen Ricky L Jones & Birds4All
#birdloversandwildlife curated by Robert SKREINER  BIRD Lovers & WILDLIFE
#birdsgallery  with thanks to Heinrich Wagner


Must-have hashtags (for hackling the hashtag-haters … ;o))
#SeagullButtSaturday (duh!)
#SeagullButtShots
#SeagullButts
#notatheme
#SeagullButtsInDisguise (for other birds; a fine way to use up all those bird shots you took that are "not quite what you were shooting for" and currently languishing on your hard drive.)
#Gulluminati (what the group of non-curators have come to be known as)
#FunniestNonthemeOnGplus (because, isn't it?! … ;oD)
#Splatterday (Jasbir's invention, applicable for, ahem, some conditional shots … ;o7)

#rgwoodpost #Gulluminati #Gullarazzi #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus
#googleplusphotos #hqspbirds #btpbirdpro #birdsgallery
My G+ albums: https://sites.google.com/site/rgwphotoalbums/

This image is still visible, if you click on it. Google gnomes havebeen being naughty and hid it in the post ... ;o7

This image is still visible, if you click on it. Google gnomes have been being naughty and hid it in the post ... ;o7

Worth the Wait
(alternate caption: "The Best Things in Life Are Free")
I have a neighbor who chucks dead plants over her fence into the bank of the stream next to my house. I've rescued four of them back to good health so far. This one was a Clivia, known for blooming in the shade, and this thing was dead, dead. For three years I was just enjoying her as a plant ... but look what I got this week!!!

Never give up ... ;o))

Here she is normal-ish:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/714idnl2v3sieui/_MG_1494-9_0316-_rgw_web.jpg?dl=0

–––

#FloralFriday with thanks to Tamara Pruessner Eustace James Beth Akerman Kiki Nelson and FloralFriday

Fridays are #bokehlicious  :o) … ˚ºoOoº˚
With a nod and grin to those #bokeholics , Leo Deegan Michael B. Stuart Dave Besbris Art through the Aperture Photography Wesly Smith Angie Smith  Wendy Chase Paul Moody Shannon Adelson and sundry (that may rival the non-curator list of a certain non-theme! … ;o7)

#MacroAddict MacroAddict with thanks to Sandrine Berjonneau

#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #Friday #TGIF #naturephotography #FlowerFriday   #flowerphotography #floralphotography #hqspflowers #btpflowerpro #hqspmacro #Macro4All #MacroManiacs #macrophotography

Goose

Goose
Focus stacked.
... sort of.
But, hey, you get a goose to hold still in close-up long enough to obtain a sufficient number of images for a real focus stack. Try it; I dare you ... ;oD. For the less daring, just grin as he zooms past in your Googleverse stream ... :o))




#waterbirdwednesday with thanks to Margaret Tompkins and Water Bird Wednesday
#birds4all curated by Walter Soestbergen Ricky L Jones & Birds4All
#birdloversandwildlife curated by Robert SKREINER  BIRD Lovers & WILDLIFE
#birdsgallery  with thanks to Heinrich Wagner
#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlifewednesday #wildlifephotos #hqspbirds #btpbirdpro #wildlife #animals #animallovers #animalphotography

Tourists

Tourists

The average tourist wants to go to places where there are no tourists. Sam Ewing

Interesting stuff about travel:
•  Travel can help improve your problem-solving skills.
•  Taking a vacation can lower your risk of heart disease.
•  Studies show that money spent on travel makes you happier than money spent on material goods.
•  Benefits of travel are almost immediate. After only a day or two, 89% of people experience significant drops in stress.
•  Travel has been shown to help aid those suffering from depression.
•  Travel has been shown to promote overall brain health.
•  Couples who travel together have reported increased feelings of intimacy.
•  Travel can make you more creative.
•  Travel can also make you smarter.


–––

#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #WashingtonDC  #ArchitectureTuesday #travel #travelphotography #traveltips #traveling #traveltuesday   #travelling #traveller #wanderlust #traveltheworld #explore

Should I Stay, or Should I Go?

Should I Stay, or Should I Go?

So, here's my conundrum: Those of you that know me, know how much I like to reply to everyone who comments on my posts. But I haven't been able to do that for ages. Yay, I have work! ... but it means I don't have the time that I used to have ... and I feel SO bad when all of you take time to give thoughtful comments and I never find a moment in the day to get back and reply.

I'm still active in the "G+ Mentorship Program for Photographers"; helping to create mentorships and keeping that free program going. I'm still helping people on a daily basis, because I get to be an Arcanum Master, which helps me earn a living finally. However,  I hate giving anyone the feeling that I don't care, so I've just not been posting. I miss going through the stream and commenting on all of your posts, too!  Should I still post, even if I can't reply like I used to?

To all of you wonderful friends, whom I've met here on G+, and those I've yet to meet. I think on you often. I smile when I read your comments. I still care. I thank those of you who haven't given up on me.

–––

#AllThingsMonochrome #blackandwhitephotos #10000photographersBWmonochrome
#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #caturday  #bwfineart #bwphotography #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #bw #monochrome #monochromephotography #hqspmonochrome #hqspanimals

"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

For all those wonderful people out there in the dark ... ;o)

(If you are really young, you'll need this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMTT0LW0M_Y)

#macroaddict (MacroAddict) with thanks to Sandrine Berjonneau  Jean-Pierre Malézieux Christian PR Ruth Benjamin and William Banik
#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #naturephotography #macrophotography #hqspmacro #MacroAddicts #MacroManiacs #Macro4All #MacroMonday

“Humble and Kind”

“Humble and Kind”
[words by Lori McKenna, for her children]

Hold the door, say please, say thank you
Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie.
I know you got mountains to climb, but
Always stay humble and kind

When the dreams you're dreaming come to you,
When the work you put in is realized.
Let yourself feel the pride, but
Always stay humble and kind.

Don't expect a free ride from no one.
Don't hold a grudge or a chip and here's why:
Bitterness keeps you from flying.
Always stay humble and kind.

Know the difference between sleeping with someone
And sleeping with someone you love.
“I love you” ain't no pick up line, so
Always stay humble and kind.

Don't take for granted the love this life gives you.
When you get where you're going, turn right back around.
And help the next one in line;
Always stay humble and kind

[Tim McGraw version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzNHuGqoMc]

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because at some point in your life you will have been all of these.” ~ George Washington Carver

h/t Steve Elder

–––––

#AllThingsMonochrome with thanks to Charles Lupica Bill Wood Enrique Pelaez and All Things Monochrome

#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos
#bwfineart #bwphotography #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotos #10000photographersbw #10000photographersBWmonochrome #blackandwhitephotography #bw #monochrome #monochromephotography #hqspmonochrome #hqspanimals #wildlifewednesday

It Ain't What Yer Wearin', It's the Way That Ya Wear it!

It Ain't What Yer Wearin', It's the Way That Ya Wear it!

Any old bird can tell ya that! ... ;o))

#SeagullButtsInDisguise #DoesThisCostumeMakeMyButtLookBig ?

I hope you all are having a great weekend  ... and doing it in style!

––––
If you've made it this far, please know that there is NO such photography theme as #SeagullButtSaturday. The following people, sometimes posting to the #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus, are actually the #FunniestNonCuratorsOnGplus.

Robin Griggs Wood Ursula Klepper Christin McLeod Sassi Sassmannshausen Lauri Novak Richard Ball Craig Szymanski Melissa Beagle Ellie Kennard Cora Triton Steve Savoie Pam Wolfe +Joy Mum Jon Cassill Tom McGowan Annie Irving Diana Boyd Debby Moran Alex Lapidus Lou McCorkle Rob Lopes Kimmetal Smith Bette Kauffman Liz C Jacqueline Hodsdon Darion Jackman Steven Kennard Sharon Stone Dawn Siadatan Sumit Sen Jasbir S. Randhawa Gazzaroonii T. John Wade Dave Bell Swee Oh Leo Deegan Nancy Battis Vita Patrick Kelly Marilyn Benham Mari Luukkonen Lora Lee Chapman Giselle Savoie Carin Bruce David Q. Cohen Gernot Glaeser Maureen Roberson Brian Grzelewski cobalt please Darcee McCutcheon Annelies Jansen Rachel Ferris Margaret Tompkins Jan Vermeulen Christi Nielsen

Real themes:
#birds4all curated by Walter Soestbergen Ricky L Jones & Birds4All
#birdloversandwildlife curated by Robert SKREINER  BIRD Lovers & WILDLIFE
#birdsgallery  with thanks to Heinrich Wagner


Must-have hashtags (for hackling the hashtag-haters … ;o))
#SeagullButtSaturday (duh!)
#SeagullButtShots
#SeagullButts
#notatheme
#SeagullButtsInDisguise (for other birds; a fine way to use up all those bird shots you took that are "not quite what you were shooting for" and currently languishing on your hard drive.)
#Gulluminati (what the group of non-curators have come to be known as)
#FunniestNonthemeOnGplus (because, isn't it?! … ;oD)
#Splatterday (Jasbir's invention, applicable for, ahem, some conditional shots … ;o7)

#rgwoodpost #Gulluminati #Gullarazzi #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus
#googleplusphotos #hqspbirds #btpbirdpro #birdsgallery
My G+ albums: https://sites.google.com/site/rgwphotoalbums/

Predawn Flight Check

Predawn Flight Check

I hope you're having a glorious day!



#ThirstyThursdayPics  #thirstythursday
#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #hqsplandscape #BTPLandscapePro #hotairballoon #Arizona #SunrisePhotography #Sunrise #Travel #TravelPhotography