- A Rock PatchThis was at the top of another trail that make up the Arnold Rim Trails.It was a fairly flat and wide ridge about 100 feet or so long, that was created by two plates being pushed up against each other … Read More
- Elephant Orphaned BabyThe day after I landed in Nairobi Kenya, we visited the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage on the outskirts of Nairobi. A fenced area in the middle of the compound—about 100 x 200 feet—had the classic African reddish clay soil. Mounds … Read More
- Pink Ornamental GrassThis ornamental grass cluster is planted in the middle of very small seating area, near the walking path where I often take an evening walk. A couple of benches line the circular retaining borders where this ornamental grass grows. Unlike … Read More
- Rhino WrinklesLake Nakuru National Park was the only place that had plenty of rhinos to observe in close proximity. They were unfazed by the 4×4 tour vehicles stopping nearby and with the constant camera shutter clicks. They kept their massive heads … Read More
- Tormented SoulThe Arnold, California, area is in a pine forest just seven miles South of Big Trees National Park, on Highway 4. A twenty minute walk from our vacation house there gets me to our HOA lake, Fly in Acres Reservoir. … Read More
- Elephant Rush HourAmboseli National Park, Kenya. We stayed at a simple, but very charming and classic safari lodge, at a town nearby. We enjoyed daily drives down to the lake where local elephants came to feast on the water lilies, cool off, … Read More
- Butterfly PoplarsOn one of my evening walks around the lake by our vacation house in Arnold, a cluster of Poplar trees in all stages of their lives caught my attention from a distance through the pine trees. What really attracted me … Read More
- Serengeti Hot Air BalloonCould I pass up a hot air balloon ride over Serengeti at sunrise? Not a chance! We rose at 4 am and after a very light breakfast (for good reasons) we drove to the air field where hot air balloons … Read More
- Zebra Lines and EyeHigh noon, Ngorongoro National Park in Tanzania. The grazing animals on the plain were moving slowly, as if to conserve energy. Knowing the big cats don’t hunt during mid-day heat, they relax for few hours, waiting for the scorching sun … Read More
- Elephant Mom and DaughterIt was our first evening at the Karatu Simba Lodge in Tanzania. This was our base lodge for the game drives to shores of Lake Manyara in Manyara National Park. This lodge and pool back onto the outskirts of … Read More
- Zebra’s HeadDay one at Ngorongoro National Park in Tanzania. At mid day and the sun was beating down on everything, including us, in the safari four wheeler with the top popped up. This group was under my radar specifically for having … Read More
- Elephant Mellow MaleLast day in Manyara National Park in Tanzania, about an hour or so drive from our Karatu Simba Lodge home base. In the early afternoon the sun was still pretty intense. Many large herds of elephants had come down … Read More
- Elephant Baby CousinsWe had just arrived at the shores of Lake Manyara in Manyara National Park, Tanzania. Our base was Karatu Simba Lodge in the nearby roadside town outside of national park boundaries. The older cousin started to smell and check out … Read More
- Elephant Newborn with MomLast day in Manyara National Park in Tanzania. Late afternoon, and the elephant moms with newborn calves were starting to get out of Lake Manyara, where they’d been feeding on water lilies. It was time to dry out and head … Read More
- Serengeti Cheetah LookoutWe stayed in the middle of Serengeti at a private tented camp and did game drives every day from early morning to (sometimes) late evening. Day four and we had sighted most of the big game who called Serengeti their … Read More
- Serengeti Hippo Harem MasterIt was later in the evening and we were on our last leg of the day’s game drive before returning to camp in Serengeti. Located next to the parking lot, this hippo pool and the river feeding it are about … Read More
- Serengeti Lion KingDay three in Serengeti. As usual the group rose early, had a full breakfast, and we were on the road by 7:30am. Our destination was one of the largest animal gathering areas—visited by both predators and prey—in the southern Serengeti. … Read More
- Waves and StarshipA long telephoto lens sends me to a visual wonderland. It’s a challenging space, but at the same time, I find it to be most entertaining and rewarding. I really never know what I’m going to end up with. … Read More
- Middle Eastern RootsAs remembered by Ara Michaelian March 1, 2021 Surprisingly, some of my most memorable experiences have been in settings where I least expect them. I often take a second look–just to believe what I’m seeing through the lens–yes, the vision … Read More
- Morocco Adventure PostponedThe Coronavirus has placed my travel-photography plans on hold
A Rock Patch
This was at the top of another trail that make up the Arnold Rim Trails.It was a fairly flat and wide ridge about 100 feet or so long, that was created by two plates being pushed up against each other … Read More
















