For some reason, these animals decided to cluster together at the top of the viewing area at the NC Zoo.  Every other time I’ve been there, they were scattered over a 100-acre area, but today they posed nicely.  Some of my pictures I’m kind of “meh” about, but this one I love love love.

Aviary view, NC Zoo.  An amazing place, full of light and sound, an occasional splash of surprising color.  Makes me feel I’m in my own tropical paradise, but for all the crowds of people pushing strollers around.  Beautiful anyway.

More detail of chimp, different pose.  Viewed through glass at the NC Zoo.
Eye detail: 

Chimps are very close to being human, DNA-wise.  If you spend time gazing at one of these creatures, they seem more and more human; what you are looking at is a reflection of yourself.

An onyx egg, from the gift shop at the North Carolina Zoo.  As zoos go, it’s a pretty good one, the animals are well treated with big enclosures, lots of qualified keepers, proper care.  I really didn’t go there to shop, but these big hunks of marble felt so good in my hand that I had to pick one up.  It felt like having a miniature desert in my palm.

Another Jordan Lake shot, kayaking.  The surface of the water looks gelatinous, almost solid.  Never ceases to amaze me, what a small amount of motion in water will do to the reflection. 

Kayaking on Jordan Lake.  A clear, clear, day, sky and water.  Reflections of fall colors.  Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina, at just about any time of the year, but I was truly blessed to be in that crisp air and see these trees. 

Every year I go to the North Carolina State Fair, and every year it is exactly the same as the year before.  Same disgusting fried foods (bacon-wrapped deep fried peanut butter cups), same rides (screaming, whirling, etc.) and the same rhubarb pie/strawberry jam/zucchini whatever.  It’s probably not the exact same jar of jam but you get the idea.

One thing that is always the same which I actually like is the forest service’s exhibit of an old fire-fighting airplane.  Just can’t get enough of that engine.  Always something new to do with a photo.

Stumbled across this amazing space in the heart of Chapel Hill. It fairly begs for a production of Midsummer Nights Dream.