One evening I decided to have a bit of fun with Photoshop and a couple other programs and this is the result…
Zebra Dreams, an artistic take on a stock image of a Grévy’s zebra (Equus grevyi), also known as the imperial zebra.
A resting zebra lays in the shade dreaming of cool springs and lush green grass on a hot summer afternoon. Artist’s recommendation: This image is especially well suited to printing on textured water color paper or a matte canvas gallery wrap.
Last weekend I took a daytrip down to the Keys. It was overcast and rained all day but I still had a nice time and grabbed a few nice shots.
First stop in the morning; a small beach in Marathon where I ran across a Resting Coral-tinged Green Iguana swimming just off shore, hiding from the black Lab that chased him off the beach. Half an hour later a Husky chased him up a tree. Life in the Conch Republic is tough for an Iguana.
Storm Over Bahia Honda, a graceful Mangrove tree clings to low flat coral reef rock formation at low tide near Bahia Honda in the Florida Keys.
Styrofoam Net and Crab Trap Floats hang on the wall of a roadside tourist gift stand along the Overseas Highway; Key Largo in the Florida Keys.
Hamburger Dockside, a fresh hamburger on bun with lettuce and tomato served dockside at Alabama Jack’s on Card Sound Road in the Florida Keys.
A perfect end to a relaxing day, sitting on a dock by Card Sound eating good food and listening to live music.
Driving home from the beach, I stopped and spent an afternoon photographing exotic animals at the Jacksonville Zoological Park in Florida. Capturing this image of such a noble creature lounging on a rock, alone made the trip worth it.
Spotted Jaguar Crouched on Rock
Spotted Jaguar Crouched on Rock; a female jaguar sits on a rock after drinking from a watering hole. A light, painting texture has been applied to enhance the image.
In this vertical variation of the Spotted Jaguar Crouching on Rock the large Jaguar’s eyes glow a vibrant yellow as he crouches low to drink from the pond.
Jaguar Drinking; a female jaguar drinks from a small creek. A light artistic texture has been added to enhance this image.
A West African Giraffe Feeding (Giraffa camelopardalis) eating from a trough mounted high, is an even-toed ungulate mammal and is the largest ruminant.
West African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), an even-toed ungulate mammal and largest ruminant eating from a trough.
Such deadly beauty, the Eyelash Palm Pit Viper.
Eyelash Palm Pit Viper; brilliantly colored but deadly Eyelash Palm Pit Viper rests in the crook of a tree branch.
Bonobo Juvenile Playing alone on a rope climbing net enjoys the warm afternoon sunshine of an early Spring afternoon.
Bonobo Juvenile Playing, an endangered Bonobo (Pan paniscus) primate youngster plays on a rope net in his Jacksonville zoo enclosure.
Grévy’s Zebra Nursing, a young yearling nurses from it’s mother in the shade on a hot Spring afternoon.
Grévy’s zebras (Equus grevyi), dam and colt, also known as the imperial zebra, is the largest extant wild equid (Dolichohippus).
I have many more images of exotic animals to post but they’ll have to wait for another night. 
Lofton Creek Dock, an image I took of a small river just north of Jacksonville on the way to Fernandina Beach. A small boat ramp, dock and car park beside the road provides easy access for fishermen, kayakers and the occasional photographer. It was Spring so the trees appear almost autumn-like thanks to a multitude of colorful buds. It was one of those times I wished I had a kayak with me.
Earlier this year I awoke early, feeling the need to get away for a day. I grabbed my camera and drove two hours to arrive at Fernandina Beach just in time for sunrise. It was a perfect morning and I was able to catch a number of memorable shots. The following was one of my first and is titled Greeting the Dawn and features a lone seagull flying into the sun as dawn breaks over Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Three Seagulls Greet the Dawn was taken moments later and shows three gulls playing at the edge of the surf while gentle waves break nearby.
Sunrise Walk
A couple enjoys each other’s company while walking along the shore at sunrise. Seagulls flock around them, playing in the surf.
As the sun rose further, a stand of Fernandina Beach Sea Oats can be seen gently swaying in the ocean breeze while a couple can be seen strolling along the shoreline beyond.
Besides recreational activities like walking, biking and looking for shells, I encountered quite a few people Surf fishing and actually catching fish. If I lived closer I’d be out on the beach every morning!
Enlarged versions of these images and other Fernandina Beach images can be viewed and purchased in a variety of formats on my website by following the blue links imbedded in the text above above or clicking directly on the images.