Weekly Photo Challenge: To Build Or Not To Build

That’s not a hard question at all. I’ve mentioned my love of LEGOs before, but I haven’t really taken any photos of them. Considering this week’s challenge calls for something awesome among the mundane, these little bricks were perfect. Yes, that’s a Hamlet-themed figure, my favorite of the bunch (except maybe the Goth Girl. She’s adorable). Yes, that is also the LEGO Leaning Tower of Pisa in the background; I get one of the Architecture sets every year for Christmas. It’s a fun, geeky way to inspire more traveling and building.

Advertisement

Weekly Photo Challenge: Borneo River Toad

This rather stoic fellow can be found inside the Osher Rainforest at the Academy of Sciences. Unlike many animals, he just sat there calmly and let museum-goers get a good look. Larger version available here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Jellyfish Spiral

Here’s a little something from the aquarium at California Academy of Sciences. The tank is pretty dark, save for the shaft of light going down the center. I caught this jellyfish swimming close through the light at just the right moment…Larger version viewable here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Chambered Nautilus

Here’s a nice, close shot of one of the more interesting inhabitants of the aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. The patterns on Chambered Nautilus’ shells are some of the most famous in the animal kingdom. Larger version is viewable here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: White-Spotted Jellyfish

This week’s challenge calls for some close-ups, and I immediately thought of this shot. Meet phyllorhiza punctata, more easily pronounced as a white-spotted jellyfish. According to the display, “These jellies can grow up to 60 cm (24 in) in diameter. The stinging cells in their tentacles capture food and provide protection. Each large jelly can collect food from 50 m³ (65 cu yd) of water a day. Diet: small zooplankton. Distribution: coastal areas and estuaries in the Southwestern Pacific, invasive in Hawaii and the Gulf of Mexico.” I photographed this little one, however, at the aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Pistol Shot Glass

This week’s challenge calls for something close up, and I remembered taking this photo of a glass pistol during the tequila factory tour in Mexico. All the little imperfections in the cork and the light reflected in the barrel look pretty neat at this angle. Since today is apparently National Tequila Day, I thought it’d be worth posting. Talk about putting the shot in shot glass!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Parrots Back To Back

This week’s challenge calls for halves, and I remembered seeing these parrots hanging out while their cages are being cleaned. Large versions available here and here.

Lime And Lemon

Just a brief glimpse of an evening Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta…Large version available here.

Los Arcos Coconuts

When people go to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, there’s a good chance they’ll take a boat tour out to Los Arcos de Mismaloya. It’s a gorgeous place to visit. If you’d rather stay on land, however, you can take a road trip along the coastline and admire Los Arcos from a distance…and enjoy some fresh coconuts at the lookout! Large version available here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Roy G. Biv, Macaw Style!

This week’s challenge calls for Roy G. Biv, or all the colors of the rainbow. Instead of going with books like the last time this prompt showed up, I decided to post a lovely photo of a scarlet macaw, one of the most colorful birds I’ve ever seen! Large version available here.