Foto Friday Fun 352: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 14 readers including several birthday shots at Grand Canyon and South Africa.  Could that be because my birthday is next month?

Melissa chose #8359.  I love shadow shots that make me look tall with long legs, neither of which I have.  Here I was hiking on the Rainbow Rim near Parissawampitts Point.  I had just spent the afternoon driving through the Kaibab National Forest shooting the variety of Autumn colors the end of September 2014.

Yogi chose #8711.  Desert View Watchtower is one of my favorite viewpoints on the South Rim Grand Canyon National Park.  Even better, this was on my birthday in 2015.  It’s fitting Yogi got this shot as he, like me, celebrates birthdays for many days.  And this wasn’t the first time I was gifted the canyon.

Rita chose #7321.  One of many unidentified succulents seen along a trail in South Africa.  Although a nice walk, that was secondary to soaking in hot water at Warmwaterberg Spa in a private Roman like bath.

Doris chose #4356.  If you’ve visited the North Rim of Grand Canyon this is an iconic view from the lodge veranda.  If you’re lucky, a monsoon storm will make it even more dramatic.

Lisa chose #1306.  Yes, it’s lichen on limestone at the Grand Canyon because I like micro-environments as much as big landscapes.

Sherry chose #9090, the top of Augrabies Falls, a national park in South Africa.  So much more to see there than waterfalls like wildlife and a mix of geology.  And, I spent my birthday there in 2014.

Sue chose #7864, “for my son’s birthday.”  You’ll already note the birthday theme this week.  But this snowy shot was taken 1-10-16, no birthdays I know of, along the Virgin River in Zion National Park.  Actually drove up the canyon because it’s much quieter and less crowded during winter.

Jo and random dot org chose #8354.  A South Rim Grand Canyon view from Moran Point showing mostly the bottom half of the canyon, half a mile in depth and 1500 million years of time.  I took this photo on my birthday visit in 2015.

Jeff chose #853, “the American Legion Post number where we camped this trip.”  No camping on this Pleasant Valley meadow, or Legion Post either, but other meadows on the North Kaibab National Forest can be found for camping.

Liberalwarrior chose #6019, his lucky dart board throw.  I feel lucky to have seen this threatened species African Black Oystercatcher in Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa.  You’ll be lucky to see it in almost the center of the photo.

Diane and Nigel chose #2102.     Looking upstream at the Colorado River 3000 feet below in bright morning light from Toroweap overlook my first visit in 2010 for a friend’s birthday.

Jennifer chose #4444.  Sunset over the Mesquite Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, California during a windy November 2017 visit.

Jodee and Bill chose #3421.  Full moon rise at sunset over the Inyo Mountains while camped in the BLM managed Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California during March 2017.

Sallie and Bill chose #435.  A portion of the “little apartment” or guesthouse behind Berta’s house in Yarnell before the fire.  Now it’s all gone.

My choice is an attempted shot of the setting crescent moon from my Kofa NWR camp a few nights back.  Should have dug out the tripod because it wasn’t easy to hand-hold the camera for 1/8th of second.  Still, kinda’ cool.

Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories.  For more of the story just follow the links.  Please join in next week by leaving a number between 0001 and 9999 in your comment below.

Do you have a favorite this week?