A trip to the Knowland Park Zoo in Oakland yielded this glamour shot of a Common Chuckwalla. Press L to see it pop out of the page.

Read more about the Chuckwallas at the Oakland Zoo here: www.oaklandzoo.org/Common_Chuckwalla.php

Shot at f/5.6 ISO1000 handheld with the FA43 Limited on the Pentax K5.

Tags:   Chuckwalla California Oakland Knowland Park Knowland Zoo reptile lizard southwest blie spiny gila monster desert Pentax K5 Mike Oria photography wildlife close focus shallow FA43 limited

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Thrill seekers aboard "Goliath" at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio. Yes, I was staring directly at the sun through the viewfinder for several minutes waiting to get this photo.

Thanks to my sis Michelle for leaving the pack to walk over here.

Lens is the FA43 Limited.

Tags:   San Antonio Texas Six Flags Fiesta roller coaster sun solar sol sunburst rays starburst eclipe mono duo toning black white Goliath Pentax K5 FA43 Limited mike oria photography http://mikeoria.zenfolio.com/ Six Flags Fiesta Texas Batman DC DC Comics

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Here is a mono conversion of the Bay Bridge from YBI

Tags:   san francisco oakland california bay bridge yerba buena island skyline mono black white lights long exposure night ferry building embarcadero pentax FA43 limited www.mikeoria.zenfolio.com

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Back to this curious little spot in China Camp, San Rafael, CA. The rain made for a slippery and muddy descent to the beach but it was a good night hanging out with Matt Granz.

This is a 2 shot vertical pano, single exposure.

Lens is the FA43/1.8 Limited

Tags:   San Rafael California China Camp State Park Rat Island sunset night long exposure Pentax K5 FA43 Limited beach rocks bonsai richmond pablo bay mike oria photography rock landscape seascape http://mikeoria.zenfolio.com/

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I found myself up very late Saturday night and by 4am decided it made little sense to go to bed; rather, I could a jump on the sunrise, so I made for the windfarms in southern Solano County. I knew the skies would be uninteresting, but also wanted to get in some scouting of some new comps for future visits.

This is one of many sites I scouted.

Lens is the FA43 Limited.

Tags:   san francisco california suisun city rio vista antioch solano county fairfield windfarm wind farm turbine sunrise sunset mike oria Pentax K5 FA43 Limited http://mikeoria.zenfolio.com/

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