Beautiful Animals

I'm saving the hedgehog pic.

http://pewit.blogspot.com/

These are mostly too clean for me, as photos, though they are probably brilliant.
The goose is certainly a work of art. I'm just talking about my reaction.

tsar, Spectacular pictures. I love the owls. I especially love the ducks in flight and the geese in flight (mostly the ducks). I've been wondering how they get such pics. From a plane? A hang glider? A parachute? Or does another bird help out--the greatly endangered photobird. Amazing stuff, kid. Thanks.

Lacewing:

Lacewings??
Hey!! The Victorian Secret models of the insect world!

some good looking pups from a twitter friend

I'd be more impressed if the dogs had twitter accounts themselves!

I'd follow them if they twittered less about their daily lives and more about their passions ... like ... squirrels!

Good news for the Blue Whale:

They are singing in lower tones, likely because there are more females about (no need to shout). This means there are more blue whales over all. Or so the theory goes. Fabulous!

dj, Beautiful akitas. They're magnificent dawgs.

littlek, Wonderful news. Thanks for spreading the word.

I don't watch the Super Bowl if my home team isn't in it. However, I'm always happy to watch the Puppy Bowl. Don't care who's in it.

Some more from the outtakes of the SF Chronicle photographers -

I love this one, and I'm usually skittish about dressing up animals in any way. Not always, but usually.

"Who You Callin' a Dog - 3:08 p.m. - Veterans Park Napa, Calif. I was on assignment to shoot this park in Napa that was connected to a story about an ongoing construction project up that way and I was stopped in my tracks by "Tiger Woods" and his owner Lonnie Glass. The two are apparently a fixture in the downtown area. I know I seem to photograph a lot of dogs but you can't pass this up. Since taking this picture I've run into several people who were able to describe similar experiences of intrigue. Same dog. Same place. Camera Settings: ISO 800, 1/1600, f 3.5, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 38mm lens.
Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle




Another from the series -
"Cleared for Takeoff - 10:34 a.m. - Marin Headlands. While waiting for the release of a "celebrity" sea lion at the Marine Mammal Center, I watched a seagull slowly walk up a ramp, then suddenly charge forward, flapping his wings and lifting off the ground."
Camera settings: ISO 800, 1/800, f 7.1, Canon EOS 1D Mark III, 400mm lens.
Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle




and -
"Birdface - 12:10 p.m. - Pier 28. The colored features of this bird begged a second look, as he allowed me to approach quite close."
Camera settings: ISO 160, 1/200, f 7, Canon EOS 1D Mark III, 200mm lens.
Photo: Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle




another by Liz Hafalia -
"Dogs in Line - 12:57 p.m. - Baker's Beach. These dogs seemed unusually well behaved as they wait to load into the van after a walk on Baker's Beach."Camera settings: ISO 160, 1/200, f 7, Canon EOS1D Mark III, 165mm lens.
Photo: Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle




"Bird Ship - 10:37 a.m. - Embarcadero. I was driving along the Embarcadero to an assignment when a sailing ship out on the Bay caught my eye. I found a group of old piers nearby with birds perched under the cover of low morning clouds."
Camera Settings: ISO 100, 1/500, f 9, Canon 5D Mark II, 420mm lens.
Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle



Having followed "chronicle outtakes" a couple of times now, I want to check out these folks' "takes".

I agree, osso. If these were the outtakes, what were the keepers. Great pics. Thanks.

Red hartebeest:

Today's Shockwave Daily Jigsaw puzzle...

Great Chronicle photos Ossobuco! I love the candy apple red beak. Quite sporty!

And that line of dogs... I wonder where they're headed trip wise!