i just couldn't pass up a side trip to Mars to grab a couple of surface shots! Or maybe i just happen to be inside a volcano crater and the surrounding red-rock landscape looks much like a Martian world.

i've been scouting around for a perfect rose shot - which for anyone whom has tried this, understands the challenge - there's almost always some imperfection or imbalance that keeps one searching for something better. i happen to find these three pink roses in a row and focused on the perfect pattern of soft pink petals on the center bloom.

geyser at Yellowstone

evening sun peeking through the sides of a Banyan tree forest immersed in a picturesque swampland

JiuZhaiGou Valley

Raindrop suspended on small branch

I was camping out on one of the lower peaks (about 8500 feet) in the Andes Mountains. It was a wet and somewhat tropical area and had a light rain most of the night. As daylight started making itself known, the remaining rain clouds started dissipating and swirling about the neighboring peaks. Once again, I grabbed my camera gear and prepared for a moody shot. The sunlight was peaking out here and there, clouds blowing by and changing each second, I just had to wait for everything to come into balance and squeeze the shutter's release cable. The dark neighboring mountain peak intertwined with scattering clouds created a mysterious and suspenseful image, expressing the drama in the air this morning.

i'm keeping my distance and using my longest lens as this female hunter is sizing up lunch.