When was the last time you really paid attention to the world around you? Did you notice the bees pollenating the flowers? The stray neighborhood cat lounging in the sun? Life is hectic. We run from meeting to meeting, task to task, checking items off of our proverbial to-do lists sometimes without thinking about the world around us. I consider my life to be very full today, and I am not sure that I would have it any other way, but lately I have been taking the time to pay attention. To be mindful of the beauty all around me. To stop and take a moment to appreciate the small things I normally take for granted. A sunset, a spiderweb, the changing leaves announcing the arrival of Autumn. I take my camera everywhere because it reminds me to pay attention and not take these things for granted. So the next time you find yourself caught up in the hustle and bustle, stop, take a breath, pay attention, notice the small things. In the end, they are what really mattered.
It's no secret that I love animals. Taking a trip to the zoo still brings out the little kid in me, and you can usually find me staring in awe in the penguin exhibit or smiling from ear to ear in the aviaries. The Columbus Zoo is quite large compared to the closest zoo to my hometown and it is an all day adventure. This year I had a blast capturing shots of some of my favorite animals while sharing a beautiful day with some of my favorite people. My new favorite spot is the newest exhibit area " The Heart of Africa." It's set up very much like a safari with dozens of different animals sharing the savanna habitat. Lions, giraffes, ostriches, zebras...I stood there for an hour and kept seeing new animals cross my vision! I have to say though, the kissing camels were quite adorable. I enjoy bird-watching and the aviaries provide quite the experience for bird-lovers. I love taking my time and trying to find each different specie of bird listed to be among those in each aviary. I have to say though, as entertaining as the Lorakeet Aviary was, some of the most entertaining bird watching we had was watching the wild birds fight for the crumbs from the human visitors! They would wait near tables in anticipation of the patrons either dropping or throwing pieces of bread or crackers their way. One Canadian Goose even made its way right up to our table during an afternoon ice cream break. I had an absolute blast visiting all of my furry, feathered, and scaly friends, but a trip to the zoo wouldn't be nearly as fun without my favorite animals...HUMANS!
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Kristina M. Canfield
Storyteller. Photography enthusiast. Loves the color Green. General crazy person. Archives
November 2014
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