In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.
~Aaron Rose
🙂
When I searched my old photos, all made before moving to Costa Rica in 2014, I quickly chose 125 photos without even going through all and decided to stop looking. Then I made cuts down to 40 photos that had “the right light” and I considered “extraordinary” and still too many! 🙂 I arbitrarily told myself “No more than 20!” (hopefully fewer) and the last cuts were the most difficult! 🙂 So forgive me for doing a post with 20 photos, but the chosen ones are all below in a gallery where you can click an image to see it larger. The feature photo in the header is my favorite Clouded Leopard shot from Nashville Zoo and this sample below for the email recipients (who have to click “Read More” to continue) is one of many extraordinary shots from 2 safaris in the Masai Mara . And these are not necessarily favorites but seem to fit in these two locations. 🙂
Photos are in no particular order . . .
The Parthenon in Nashville, TN 
My Guide waiting on the rain to stop, Amazon River, Brazil. 
Drive over Shelf Road between Cripple Creek & Canon City, CO. 
Common Transportation in Rural Cuba. 
Clouded Leopard at Nashville Zoo. We connected! Bedtime for the Elephants, Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya. 
Canyon view from Inspiration Point, Yellowstone National Park. 
The Blue Ridge Mountains from Mt. Mitchel, NC 
Covehead Harbour Lighthouse near Greenwich, Prince Edward Island, Canada. 
Cypress Tree Reflection, Reelfoot Lake State Park, TN. 
Sunset in Cancun, Mexico. 
French Quarters, New Orleans, LA. 
Sunset Chores in Barrokunda, The Gambia, West Africa. 
Monument Valley, Utah. 
Symbolic Sunset on my brother Jerry’s Life in Rochester, MN. 
My Extraordinary First Time Sighting of Panama City, Panama. 
Central Plaza, Campeche, Mexico. 
Sunset on Grand Canyon National Park, AZ. 
Sunrise on the Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire. 
Sunrise on Miami Beach, FL.
Photography is all about light, composition and, most importantly, emotion.
~Larry Wilder
¡Pura Vida!
The photographs in today’s post are stunning. You did excellent work in capturing scenes that need no words. Cheap camera? I don’t think so – these photos are not cheap, they are beautiful stories in pictorial color.
You have been blessed by seeing much of the world and by using your shutter, you have captured memories from traveling adventures.
Much thanks Larry! It’s been a fun life! And still is! 🙂
I liked all of them, but i liked more: Cypress Reflection TN , Sunset on Grand CantĂłn and Sunset in MN,
Congratulation for these photos
Thank you very much Arturo! And what good English you write! 🙂
I’ve had a good life and been able to capture many of the moments!
Great photos Charlie. My two favorites would be Cypress Tree and Monument Valley. Keep em coming – Steve
🙂 ¡Gracias!
Fabulous! You are so talented, Charlie, and your blog has enriched my experience. I’ve seen a few of these places too, and many more. the world is a marvelous place indeed.
Deborah, yes, the world is marvelous and I’m so thankful I’ve been able to experience a lot of it! But I also think I saved the best for last, don’t you? — Retired in Costa Rica! 🙂 ¡Pura vida!
Not my favorite, but the photo “chores from The Gambia” so reminds me of my visit to that or a similar village you took me to in Africa. I am forever indebted to you for exposing me to both The Gambia and Costa Rica – both countries I would have never visited on my own.
And Reagan, you are the only person who has visited me in both countries! 🙂 And as a fellow traveler I think you will agree with Saint Augustine who said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” 🙂 I’m glad that you’ve read along with me in so many places!
My life has been enriched by every place I’ve lived or visited, including Nashville, and this little photo exercise was another way to re-enjoy the moments! 🙂 And that is okay for us old people. 🙂
Amen, Charlie!
Amen, Charlie!
Charlie, your work is beautiful, thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Margaret! It is especially valuable coming from you, a professional photographer. It is just a fun hobby for me, “seizing the moments!” 🙂
These pictures are extraordinary! Thankyou for sharing. It was a wonderful way to start the day. I have visited a handful of countries and wish at those times I had had the photographic ability and passion you exhibit. ————Steve & lucy
🙂 You are kind! Thank you! And I hope you noticed that one of those shots was made in New Hampshire! 🙂
You bet. On the highway that only locals know how to pronounce the name . Often just called the “kanc” to avoid arguments about pronunciation.
🙂 And I won’t even try to pronounce it! 🙂
Awesome menagerie of photos you have taken Charlie. Thanks for sharing some of your experiences with all of us…
🙂 You are kind Donald! I share photos “Con gusto! 🙂
And “menagerie” is a good description of my life! 🙂