Galleries

Behind the Scenes at the Columbus Zoo : Through the efforts of friends, we were able to arrange (Would "finagle" be a better word?) a behind-the-scenes tour of the Columbus Zoo. We expected about an hour in the primates area because the Columbus Zoo is well known for its work with primates. What we didn't know is that we would also get an up-close look at the pachyderm building (and the baby elephant) and the promotions building where we met some of the animals that have gone with zoo director emeritus Jack Hanna on television tours. Photography was somewhat restricted in the primates area to avoid upsetting the gorillas, but less restricted in the pachyderm building and in the promotions building.

Behind the Scenes at the Columbus Zoo

Through the efforts of friends, we were able to arrange (Would "finagl ...

Updated: Jun 22, 2009 2:51pm PST

Columbus Zoo - March 2009 : Sunday, May 31, was one of the dozen or so absolutely perfect days we see every year in Ohio, so it seemed like a good day for a trip to the zoo. One of the main attractions now is a baby elephant that was born about a month ago. Today we spent most of our time in the North American section, though.

Columbus Zoo - March 2009

Sunday, May 31, was one of the dozen or so absolutely perfect days we ...

Updated: May 31, 2009 11:58am PST

Obama Rally Ohio Statehouse Nov 2, 2008 : It's two days before the election. Barack and Michelle Obama are in town for a rally on the grounds of the Ohio capitol building. I wanted to go, but I had to visit the Board of Elections to pick up election supplies and obtain some additional last-minute training. Thanks to younger daughter, Kaydee, who attended the rally with Phyllis, we have pictures. The crowd was enormous. Hours before the event, lines of people stretched every direction from the statehouse. Streets were closed to traffic. From the photos alone, you can sense the electricity. The hope. The desire to change the nation's direction and get it going the right way again.

Obama Rally Ohio Statehouse Nov 2, 2008

It's two days before the election. Barack and Michelle Obama are in to ...

Updated: Nov 02, 2008 2:09pm PST

Coffman Park - Dublin : Coffman Park in Dublin, Ohio, is the home of an exhibit of several whimsical arts displays. I spent some time there looking at the guy in the tree, the funny benches, and more.

Coffman Park - Dublin

Coffman Park in Dublin, Ohio, is the home of an exhibit of several whi ...

Updated: Oct 19, 2008 2:08pm PST

Fall 2008 at Columbus Metro Parks : Central Ohio in the fall. In Columbus, we're fortunate to be surrounded by a series of Metropolitan Parks that are well maintained and within easy driving distance. The fall colors are wonderful. I visited Sharon Woods Metropolitan Park in the late afternoon, Inniswood Metropolitan Garden in the morning, Highbanks Metropolitan Park one afternoon, and Prairie Oaks Metropolitan Park shortly after sunrise.

Fall 2008 at Columbus Metro Parks

Central Ohio in the fall. In Columbus, we're fortunate to be surrounde ...

Updated: Oct 13, 2008 8:43am PST

ViaColori 2008 in Columbus : Chalk drawings on streets. Via Colori continues to be a big hit in Columbus.

ViaColori 2008 in Columbus

Chalk drawings on streets. Via Colori continues to be a big hit in Col ...

Updated: Sep 13, 2008 8:08pm PST

Columbus Zoo - Labor Day 2008 : Wonderful weather and the ever-improving Columbus Zoo: Great combination for a holiday weekend.

Columbus Zoo - Labor Day 2008

Wonderful weather and the ever-improving Columbus Zoo: Great combinati ...

Updated: Sep 01, 2008 11:56am PST

Barack Obama in Central Ohio : Barack Obama came to Central Ohio on 30 August 2008, and who would have thought that so many suburban Central Ohio honkies would stand in line (on a sunny, hot day in August) to see a black man who says that he wants to be president of the United States of America! I'm pleased to say that I was one of those honkies. We arrived at Dublin Coffman High School a little after 3pm for an event that was scheduled for 7pm. Already the lines were long. By the time we got inside the stadium, more than 90 minutes later, the "home team" area had filled. Clearly, the promoters thought that they would fill only the home-team side. We sat in the "guest team" area, an entire football field width away from the activity. Thousands more stood on the field. For an event that was expected to draw perhaps 5000 people, some 12,000 to 15,000 showed up. Fox "News" will undoubtedly report a far smaller count, but I was there and I did the math, conservatively. [The Columbus Dispatch and other legitimate news sources say attandance was in the range of 19,000 to 20,000. See Dispatch coverage.] Bush, Cheney, Rove, and the other criminals who have been part of the wrecking crew for the past 8 years, will try to deflect the winds of change and continue the failed policies and programs of the past 8 years; but if the election is really FREE and FAIR, there's no doubt that the winds will win. Choose hope, not fear, my friend. Eight is more than enough.

Barack Obama in Central Ohio

Barack Obama came to Central Ohio on 30 August 2008, and who would hav ...

Updated: Aug 31, 2008 9:02am PST

Columbus Zoo Spring 2008 : Saturday was predicted to be superb with a few clouds and a high in the mid 60s. Sunday, which is Mother's Day, will be rainy. Guaranteed. That made the decision to visit the zoo on Saturday an easy one. The Columbus Zoo continues to grow and develop; every time we go, something has been improved.

Columbus Zoo Spring 2008

Saturday was predicted to be superb with a few clouds and a high in th ...

Updated: May 10, 2008 3:18pm PST

Central Ohio Comes to a Halt (March 8, 2008) : About every 20 or 30 years, central Ohio gets enough snow to shake a stick at. The weekend of March 7-9, 2008, lots of sticks were being shaken.

Central Ohio Comes to a Halt (March 8, 2008)

About every 20 or 30 years, central Ohio gets enough snow to shake a s ...

Updated: Mar 09, 2008 8:29am PST

Columbus: Franklin Park Conservatory (Jan 2008) : The Franklin Park Conservatory probably isn't worth chartering a direct flight to Columbus from Paris, but the conservatory has grown and become well worth visiting. The current exhibit includes model trains, fairy-tale characters, and some of the glass art contributed by Dale Chihuly following an exhibit a few years ago. I would have trouble imagining Columbus without ("The") Ohio State University, but I would have more trouble imagining Columbus without the Franklin Park Conservatory.

Columbus: Franklin Park Conservatory (Jan 2008)

The Franklin Park Conservatory probably isn't worth chartering a direc ...

Updated: Jan 12, 2008 4:55pm PST

Tori and Mark's wedding : Tori Scharp and Mark Cooper were wed on October 13, 2007, in Pittsburgh.

Tori and Mark's wedding

Tori Scharp and Mark Cooper were wed on October 13, 2007, in Pittsburg ...

Updated: Nov 10, 2007 4:01pm PST

Olentangy Bike Trail : The Olentangy Bike Trail is nearly continuous from downtown Columbus to north of Worthington. These pictures are from a short section near the northern end.

Olentangy Bike Trail

The Olentangy Bike Trail is nearly continuous from downtown Columbus t ...

Updated: Sep 11, 2007 3:53pm PST

Highbanks 2007 : Highbanks Park is the closest of many Columbus Metropolitan Parks. I had the day off on Friday, August 17, 2007, so I decided to go for a walk on one of the trails. The temperature was below 70, but the relative humidity was well above 90%.

Highbanks 2007

Highbanks Park is the closest of many Columbus Metropolitan Parks. I h ...

Updated: Aug 17, 2007 2:51pm PST

Kitties I've Had the Good Fortune to Know : Over the years, I've met a lot of cats. Some have lived with us; others were just acquaintances. You may think that one of these cats looks suspiciously like a dog. Indeed it is a dog, but he lives with 4 cats, so he's an honorary cat.

Kitties I've Had the Good Fortune to Know

Over the years, I've met a lot of cats. Some have lived with us; other ...

Updated: Jul 22, 2007 11:06am PST

Ohio Bicentennial Wagon Train - June 2003 : One of the features of Ohio's Bicentennial was a wagon train that traveled across the state. One of the stops was in Columbus at the state capitol building.

Ohio Bicentennial Wagon Train - June 2003

One of the features of Ohio's Bicentennial was a wagon train that trav ...

Updated: Jul 22, 2007 10:37am PST

Hocking Hills - July 2006 : Ohio's terrain ranges from relatively flat in the north to gently rolling in the middle of the state to hilly in the south and southeast parts of the state. The Hocking Hills in south central Ohio are popular and these photos will probably explain why.

Hocking Hills - July 2006

Ohio's terrain ranges from relatively flat in the north to gently roll ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2007 3:29pm PST

New York City-2002 : Kaydee was looking at NYC art schools in 2002. She eventually decided on the Columbus College of Art and Design, but we had fun in the snow.

New York City-2002

Kaydee was looking at NYC art schools in 2002. She eventually decided ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2007 9:42am PST

Balboa Park 2003 : Balboa Park is adjacent to the San Diego Zoo and is on top of a hill in the approach path to San Diego's airport. The park is a gem.

Balboa Park 2003

Balboa Park is adjacent to the San Diego Zoo and is on top of a hill i ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2007 9:20am PST

Columbus Zoo - December 2006 : I've been visiting the Columbus Zoo since the 1960s, when it was barely more than a jail for animals. Today the Columbus Zoo is involved in conservation efforts and the zoo itself gives the animals who live there as much space as they can.

Columbus Zoo - December 2006

I've been visiting the Columbus Zoo since the 1960s, when it was barel ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2007 8:57am PST

Columbus Zoo - July 2007 : We visited the zoo in the morning because the heat and humidity later in the day would make the trip uncomfortable.

Columbus Zoo - July 2007

We visited the zoo in the morning because the heat and humidity later ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2007 7:31am PST

Big Bugs at Inniswood : Inniswood Park is one of the Columbus Metro Parks. Starting in July, and for the next several months, the park is home to some big bugs. According to the Metro Parks website, "As well as a 20-foot long praying mantis, weighing 1,200 pounds, you will encounter a 7-foot long assassin bug, three giant ants, all 25 feet long and each weighing 725 pounds, a dragonfly and damselfly, grasshopper, ladbybug, and a spider in its web." See more here. You're probably wondering if I get anything out of it should you decide to buy a print. The answer is No; SmugMug makes a profit on print orders, but I don't.

Big Bugs at Inniswood

Inniswood Park is one of the Columbus Metro Parks. Starting in July, a ...

Updated: Jul 15, 2007 10:53am PST

Your Bio

Sorry about the glare.
This shows why I've never been a TV journalist and why I'm more comfortable on the back end of the camera. I could have used different lighting, a different camera angle, or severe cropping to eliminate the glare, but sometimes it's better to accentuate the negative.
Take Stroh's beer for example (please). Long ago the company's ad campaign was based on being "fire brewed". There was no advantage to fire brewing, but Stroh's couldn't afford to replace the old system with a more modern one.
Instead of looking at me, look at some of the photos that I've posted here. EnJoy!
And for occasional columns about digital photography, visit TechByter WorldWide.