52Frames Animals Photo Challenge

We hadn’t been to the Smithsonian National Zoo since we first moved to Capitol Hill sixteen years ago. So we thought it would be a great place to find some options for the weekly photo challenge because animals was the subject. Since we don’t have a house pet any more we needed to find something interesting. I was hoping to find some playful pandas. They were there, but too far away to get anything worth while. A lot of the animals were hidden away inside because many of them are always inside, but it was a bit nippy for those that have a choice. There is always something at the ape house and we found a few willing subjects. My favorite was an orangutan who was sitting by the bubble exit window watching everyone go by. If it hadn’t been for my husband casting a shadow against the glass we would have missed him. We did see elephants and ostriches and bison and bear and lemurs and giant tortoise - plus several ugly snakes. The alligator snapping turtle was frightening to look at, but the glass didn’t allow for a shepherd image. But what caught my husband’s eye was the twenty five pound five foot long Grand Cayman iguana. When this huge iguana is resting, it’s color is blue-gray. But when it becomes excited, the front half of its body turns turquoise blue - giving it the nickname “blue iguana.” I really preferred the orangutan sweet face to the half smile of the iguana. But he did turn blue so he must have been excited to see us. He also had the oddest looking hands and feet and he was resting in a strange position. It was also a crisp image and the details were sharp. I’m not sure if the iguana will get a lot of attention on the 52Frames challenge this week. But it was a great reason to take a ride to the zoo to get his photo.