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De Brazza's Monkey
Minnesota Zoo
Apple Valley, Minnesota

Ring-tailed Lemur
Minnesota Zoo
Apple Valley, Minnesota

Minnesota Zoo
Apple Valley, Minnesota

Minnesota Zoo
Apple Valley, Minnesota

Typically when you go to the zoo, you're looking at animals. And I was. But I was also looking at the details of the zoo, and what they do to make the environment more educational and more appealing.

At one small spot, tucked away in a corner between turtles and otters, was a little rock garden. Within the garden, this little guy emerged. He was smaller than my fist. And once I noticed him, a little boy came up and looked, too. He couldn't quite reach him, so I asked if I should pet the reptile. His eyes got very big, but I could tell he wanted me to -- but that he wouldn't. I did. And then he wanted to as well. His dad was chuckling the entire time.

dried flowers

Once upon a time, I took macro shots like crazy. I loved getting into the details of an item, to look at it up close, more intimately than an item is typically given regards (other than by scientists who take them apart to understand them even better). I loved shooting macros. I loved seeing something within the whole that I could count as beautiful.

But to challenge myself, I moved away from macro shots, and focused on more vistas and larger subjects. Every once in a while, I'm pulled back in. This time, it was for a challenge issued in a photography meetup group that I attend. The challenge was to find details, and I hope I have here.