Kahle Family

My Flickr Photos

2008-09-05T13:57:00.002-04:00

2008-09-01T21:06:00.001-04:00

Ponce Inlet is a wonderful place. I spent a couple mornings walking up the beach to the Inlet to watch the Osprey fish. This is a very dynamic place. The Osprey soar in the wind as they look in the brackish waters below where the ocean meets the fresh water of the intercoastal waterway. When they spot a fish, they dive in and grasp it with their talons. I watched this go on for seveal hours pointing my Canon 40D with 70-200L IS lens upward to capture these beautiful creatures. This one seems to be looking right at me! Double click on the picture to see its largest size!

2008-09-01T21:02:00.000-04:00

Do you think this fish has any idea what is about to down? The Osprey's left talons are firmly grasping the tail, but the right talons are just about to latch onto the body. Look at those talons up close, click on the largest size picture so you can get a good look. What a thrilling hunt it was to watch! Check out the fish eyes, they're about to bug out of its head...

2008-09-01T21:00:00.000-04:00

I was able to capture this Osprey with my lens as he flew off between the sand dunes at Ponce Inlet. He just caught the fish and was taking it somewhere quiet so he could tear into his dinner. I love the background being sand and sea oats!

2008-08-28T10:11:00.000-04:00

I was playing around with photo editing on one of my favorite shots from our New York Trip during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

2008-08-24T23:09:00.000-04:00

Underwater portrait of Carson. It's amazing how clear the pictures turn out.

Aquaman!

2008-08-24T23:07:00.000-04:00

I got into the fun like the kids and did my own superhero dive. I look like Aquaman with a farmers tan, don't I?

Underwater Video!

2008-08-24T02:16:00.002-04:00

I shot this video with my Canon Powershot SD1000 in a waterproof casing. Pretty cool? I like the way it turned out starting above the water, causing the bubbles as I let out the air from my lungs as I submerge. The kids had fun performing for the camera.

Tilted Perspective

2008-08-24T02:11:00.000-04:00

Getting a little creative with the camera on this one. I think it makes an interesting scene out of an ordinary one. It's cool how you can see Carleigh's foot under the water. The water is quite blue, heh?

Aqua Boy!

2008-08-24T02:00:00.000-04:00

This was Carson's version of a superhero dive.

Aqua Girl!

2008-08-23T01:23:00.000-04:00

Carleigh almost looks like a superhero diving into the pool toward my camera! I'm diggin' this new underwater/all-weather photography capability that I have now. Stay tuned, lots more pics to come...

2008-08-22T13:28:00.000-04:00

Carson diving into our pool like Michael Phelps!

2008-08-22T02:01:00.000-04:00

The kids underwater in black and white. Classic.

2008-08-21T23:25:00.000-04:00

Carleigh gives the double thumbs up to underwater photography!

2008-08-21T23:07:00.001-04:00

I just got this cool underwater housing for my Canon dSLRs and took this self portrait with the kids in our pool today during Tropical Storm Fay. We went swimming while it was raining like crazy, my pool screens were getting blown out, trees were swaying in the strong winds and we were taking underwater pictures! ;)

2008-08-17T03:35:00.000-04:00

Meet "Shadow", the racoon that lives in our backyard, the kids named her. I snapped this picture Saturday afternoon after I saw her peeking out of her grassy den. Later the kids watch her come in and out her den through the window while we ate dinner.

2008-08-16T12:10:00.000-04:00

Carleigh flashes the peace sign...er, no that's 2 for 2nd grade!

2008-08-16T12:08:00.000-04:00

Patty took this picture of the kids the morning before their first day of school. Carleigh starting the 2nd grade and Carson starting 5th grade.

2008-08-15T00:02:00.000-04:00

Carson celebrates victory playing Mario Olympics on his DS Lite as Carleigh spectates.

2008-08-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

It almost looks like Carson and Carleigh are the same height. They were playing their DS Lite video games together.

2008-08-14T23:56:00.000-04:00

It's Carleigh's first day in 2nd grade!

2008-08-06T09:43:00.000-04:00

Carson & Carleigh visited their grandparents Bebe & Cline Williamson in Millbrook, Alabama this past week. Of course, they had to eat watermelon!

2008-08-06T09:39:00.000-04:00

Patty took this picture in Montgomery, Alabama when they went to see West Side Story at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Textured Birthday Picture

2008-08-04T11:12:00.000-04:00

Carson & Carleigh are ready to open their birthday presents, Carson is going first, while Carleigh shows how limber she is while she waits ;) I added the textured layer in Photoshop to make the picture look old.

2008-07-25T22:40:00.000-04:00

Carson rode all the top rollercoasters at Islands of Adventure today: "The Hulk" is the fastest ride in the park as it fools its riders on the initial ascent to believe it is the typical slow, chunky ride until it reaches the top, but then explodes to top speed moving up to its highest point twisting into a spiral dive and then immediately into several loops. It was everyone's favorite ride of the day. "Dueling Dragons" is the most impressive ride in the park. A monster of a ride that is split into two seperate coasters that intertwine, red versus blue, the fire dragon versus the ice dragon. Both coasters begin together as if they are in a race, then split off on seperate paths only to cross paths through out the ride - the most exciting of which is when the battling coasters head directly at each other until you feel certain to collide, but rather leads each side into an intense loop. "Doctor Doom" is a simple but thrilling ride that only moves straight up and staight down. It begins by catapulting the riders straight up from a stand still very fast only to quickly reverse direction and takes you down just as fast. It creates a moment of weightlessness which is a thrill. It caused Carson to take on the facial expression of "should I have agreed to do this?" but he loved it.

2008-07-25T22:21:00.001-04:00

Carson & Christian spent a good portion of the day taking advantage of the water activities to stay cool on a hot summer day.

2008-07-25T22:17:00.001-04:00

Carson & Christian getting splashed.

2008-07-25T22:14:00.001-04:00

A picture of the rollercoaster called "The Hulk" at Islands of Adventure as it whizzes by at 65 MPH. Click on the picture to see it larger and see some funny expressions on the people's faces.

2008-07-25T22:09:00.000-04:00

Happy 11th Birthday, Carson! He spent the day with his buddy, Christian and myself at Universal's Islands of Adventure. Obviously, pictured here with Popeye and Olive Oil.

2008-07-25T22:02:00.000-04:00

The beautiful ladies of my life...

2008-07-25T22:00:00.000-04:00

Carleigh makes a wish and prepares to blow out the candles on her 8th birthday cake.

2008-07-25T21:54:00.000-04:00

Happy 8th Birthday, Carleigh! She celebrated her birthday this year with a rollerskating party.

2008-07-20T00:34:00.000-04:00

We had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe with some friends of mine. I went to high school in Michigan with Rhonada Clausen pictured here with her husband Brent and daughters Tess (10) and Elle (7). They live in Ukiah, CA and were vacationing here at Disney World for a few days before heading off on a Disney Cruise.

2008-07-08T10:56:00.000-04:00

Carson & Carleigh at the WWII Memorial.

2008-07-08T10:54:00.000-04:00

Isn't the Red Panda so cute? It just would not come out of its den to get more pictures.

2008-07-08T10:52:00.000-04:00

I captured this picture at The National Zoo as I was watching some Wombats I noticed this bumblebee hovering over these purple flowers.

2008-07-08T10:47:00.000-04:00

Carson is jumping on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background across the Tidal Basin which is surrounded by the apple blossom trees that bloom in the spring.

2008-07-08T10:43:00.000-04:00

A night shot of the Washington Monument taken from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, so the Capitol Building is about a mile directly behind the obelisk. You can see a couple's outline at the bottom of the picture creating a shadow in the Monument's reflection.

2008-07-08T10:37:00.001-04:00

As the sun set and the evening light waned, the shadows produced a dramatic view of the Iwo Jima Memorial. Beautiful, don't you think?

2008-07-08T10:33:00.000-04:00

Just a close up, a little different view of the Iwo Jima Memorial.

2008-07-08T10:31:00.000-04:00

The Marine Corp Memorial aka Iwo Jima Memorial as the statue depicts the storied scene that occurred in the famous photograph during the battle on the small Pacific island during WWII. It's amazing the legacy a photograph can have, huh? If that photographer had not snapped that picture, this Memorial would not exist (at least not this scene)and the movie about this would never have been made, perhaps the battle would not have been remembered quite as well.

2008-07-08T10:23:00.000-04:00

A creative view of the beautiful flowers with the Washington Monument in the background through the trees.

2008-07-08T10:20:00.000-04:00

A reflection off the wall of the Vietnam Memorial.

2008-07-08T10:18:00.002-04:00

A view along the Vietnam Memorial toward the Washington Monument. You can see the items people have left along the base: pictures, cards, stories, flowers, momentos, and flags. This was early evening, between 7-8pm, nice lighting to capture the solemn mood as people mourn and respect our fallen soldiers from the Vietnam War.

2008-07-08T10:12:00.000-04:00

Carson & Carleigh at the Vietnam Memorial attempting to shade over one of the thousands of names with a pencil and paper. People do this typically with a charcoal pencil and paper over the name of a loved one to take it home with them.

2008-07-08T10:06:00.000-04:00

Carleigh & Carson attempting the "Ace Ventura" eye torture method of getting Mommy to do what they want.

2008-07-08T09:55:00.001-04:00

Our Nation's Capitol in the early morning. This is not the White House as many people mistake. If you want a tour of the White House, which I have never done, it is much harder to get this tour and is recommended that you contact your Senator as much as three months in advance of your visit to DC. Plan early!

2008-07-08T09:49:00.000-04:00

A view from the front of the Capitol Building looking straight down the National Mall toward the Washington Monument. A guard post keeps watch and security is extremely tight near the Capitol Building. We talked with one guard and his shift was from 6am until 11pm with one hour breaks every four hours...and you thought YOUR schedule was bad!

2008-07-08T09:45:00.000-04:00

One of the many famous paintings and statues in the main rotunda area of the Capitol Building.

2008-07-08T09:41:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed going on the Capitol Building tour. I have done this once before through my Senator which turns out is the better tour. When you contact your Senator more than a month in advance of your visit to DC then you can avoid waiting in line for free tickets and just meet with your tour at the Senator's office. An intern will guide you through the Capitol and even take you on the exclusive Senator train underground that the regular public never gets to do. If you plan too late, like we did this time, you can still get a tour by standing in line the morning before the tour. I arrived at the ticket building in front of the Capitol at 7am and was 6th in line that grew to more than 500 people by 9am.

2008-07-05T23:35:00.000-04:00

Cheetahs can accelerate to 45 miles per hour in about 2.5 seconds, likely faster than your car.

2008-07-05T23:29:00.000-04:00

The Zoo has three Cheetahas in one of the first exhibits visitors see when they come in the entrance.

2008-07-05T23:22:00.000-04:00

The Zoo is home to six western lowland gorillas, three females and three males, who live in one group. Two of the males are juveniles who were born here at the Zoo—Kojo, who was born in November 2001, and Kwame, who was born in November 1999. The third male, Baraka, is an adult who was born here in in 1992.

2008-07-05T23:14:00.000-04:00

Close up and personal shot of Carleigh while she was enjoying the Zoo this morning.

2008-07-05T23:12:00.000-04:00

This is a Golden Lion Tamarin. In the 1970s, there were fewer than 200 of these small monkeys left. Today there are more than 1,200 in the wild and 450 more in zoos. Their recovery is a huge success story. The National Zoo has been at the forefront of the effort to replenish wild populations with zoo-bred animals.

2008-07-05T23:00:00.000-04:00

This Panda seemed restless this morning, not playful like the Lions.

2008-07-05T22:56:00.000-04:00

The National Zoo has two Giant Pandas in a beautiful indoor outdoor habitat allowing the Pandas to go inside or outside whenever they want.

2008-07-05T22:53:00.000-04:00

Check out those cool Otter feet.

2008-07-05T17:00:00.000-04:00

We loved The National Zoo in Washington DC! Patty and I both felt the Zoo is the best we've ever visited. It is incredibly clean and friendly, well-laid out, accessibility to the animals was excellent, and best of all completely free! Don't miss it next time you get to DC.

2008-07-05T16:54:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's real. The National Zoo has declared 2008 the Year of the Frog to highlight the endangerment to these amphibians. Apparently they absorb toxins and pollutants more quickly through their skin. According to the Zoo's website, more than one-third of all amphibians are threaten with extinction.

2008-07-05T16:43:00.000-04:00

A little prarie dog poses for me in his habitat at the National Zoo.

2008-07-05T16:38:00.000-04:00

Beautiful, aren't they? These two females were very playful with one another. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them play.

2008-07-05T16:34:00.000-04:00

This Lioness looks as if she is smiling.

2008-07-05T16:24:00.000-04:00

The National Zoo in DC has a fantastic Lion habitat. A big circular area divided to keep the Lionesses seperate from this male. A nice wide walk path surrounds the habitat close enough to get great views and pictures.

2008-07-05T16:08:00.000-04:00

This is a sloth bear native to Asian countries like Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. They are also referred to as the Honey Bear as they love to eat bee hives and honey. They are often more feared by people than Tigers due to their aggressive unpredictable behavior especially when surprised at night.

2008-07-05T01:19:00.004-04:00

One more day in Washington DC. We've done alot this week: A Capitol Building Tour, the National Archives, the Air & Space Museum, the Botanical Gardens, the National Gallery of Art, the Washington Monument, Arlington Cemetary, the Smithsonian Institution Castle, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, the Old Post Office Clock Tower, a tour of house where Abe Lincoln died, the National Mall, Union Station, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, the 4th of July Fireworks, the Parade down Constitution Avenue, and an Open Top Bus Tour. Would you believe the only one of those we had to pay for was the bus tour? Amazing, huh?

2008-07-05T00:55:00.000-04:00

I would say overall our kids have had a spectacular time in Washington DC. Tomorrow for our last day in DC we're going to enjoy the National Zoological Park. We have a free shuttle from our hotel and the park itself is also free. For being one of the best zoos in the country, this is a can't miss bargain for the whole family!

2008-07-05T00:37:00.000-04:00

I didn't have the luxury of having my tripod with me for the fireworks which are incredibly hard to shoot handheld, but I managed to get a couple decent shots.

2008-07-05T00:28:00.000-04:00

Seeing the fireworks over the Washington Monument is a special and very Patriotic experience.

2008-07-05T00:25:00.000-04:00

When it did sprinkle outside we just went into the Air & Space Museum and watched the IMAX show "Jet Fighter Pilot" which was great!

2008-07-05T00:20:00.001-04:00

It was sprinkling a little bit at dusk before the fireworks started, but when they began the rain stopped.

2008-07-05T00:15:00.000-04:00

The family shot in front of our Nation's Capitol on the 4th of July. What could be better?

2008-07-05T00:07:00.000-04:00

The National Mall in front of the Capitol Building was a happening place to be. The crowd looks dense but we had plenty of room to walk around and it felt great to be around so many patriotic people to celebrate Independence Day.

2008-07-04T23:58:00.000-04:00

We watched the 4th of July Parade in Washington DC this morning and then spent the day in the National Mall visiting some of the Smithsonian Museums before the fireworks tonight!

2008-07-04T01:09:00.000-04:00

A Patriotic Salute on our Nation's birthday...

2008-07-04T01:06:00.000-04:00

Deep sorrow and reflection is all you can do to walk through so many lost American lives...

2008-07-04T01:04:00.000-04:00

I did not realize this before, but Robert E. Lee's house on the hill was intentionally surrounded with dead buried soldiers so that he could never return after leaving Virginia to lead the Confederate Army during the Civil War. On average 25 soldiers are buried DAILY.

2008-07-04T00:58:00.000-04:00

Chilling to think this goes on for miles...

2008-07-04T00:51:00.001-04:00

While we were in Arlington Cemetary, this military procession carried another dead American soldier to his grave. Thank Mr. Bush.

2008-07-04T00:48:00.000-04:00

The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Did you realize the guards pace in front of the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? Amazing.

2008-07-04T00:45:00.001-04:00

Arlington Cemetary means so much to me having been in the military and having known soldiers who have been wounded, taken prisoner of war, and even killed in battle. I have both friends and family buried at Arlington.

2008-07-04T00:37:00.000-04:00

The Abraham Lincoln statue is by far my favorite.

2008-07-04T00:33:00.000-04:00

Isn't night photography awesome?

2008-07-04T00:30:00.000-04:00

The Lincoln Memorial at night.

2008-07-04T00:28:00.000-04:00

This is our view from our Hotel window at the Savoy Suites. We can see the Capitol Building, the Clock Tower of the Old Post Office, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial.

2008-07-04T00:24:00.002-04:00

Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers once in a while. The flowers around Washington DC and Georgetown have been beautiful.

2008-07-04T00:21:00.000-04:00

Carson, up close and personal. This was taken on the bus tour as he turned around in the seat in front of me.

2008-07-04T00:17:00.000-04:00

Of course, we had to go up in the Old Post Office Clock Tower to get a 360 degree view downtown DC. This too is free like many of the attractions in our Nation's Capitol.

2008-07-04T00:14:00.000-04:00

The beautiful Union Station which is a huge train station with shoppes and restaurants for the thousands that pass through this well-known hub located a block from the Capitol Building.

2008-07-04T00:12:00.000-04:00

This is the popular and active Dupont Circle just north of where we stayed in Georgetown. Chess matches line the circle while others read or just people watch as people pass through this busy hub.

2008-07-04T00:09:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T00:06:00.000-04:00

Our Nation's Capitol Building. Did you know that it is exactly 1.9 miles from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial or from one end of the Mall to the other?

2008-07-04T00:02:00.000-04:00

A shot of the Jefferson Memorial.

2008-07-03T23:57:00.000-04:00

We enjoy taking the open top bus tours on the first day so we have some orientation of the city and perhaps see things we wouldn't otherwise. It works out nicely too because we can hop on hop off for two days.

2008-07-03T23:51:00.000-04:00

Our monkeys decided to climb a tree below the Washington Monument.

2008-07-03T23:48:00.000-04:00

We could not have asked for better weather so far on our trip. This view shows the proximity of the WWII Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial.

2008-07-03T23:47:00.000-04:00

Daddy takes another shot of Patty and the kids.

2008-07-03T23:45:00.000-04:00

The kids are having a blast! Who knew learning could be so much fun?

2008-07-03T23:44:00.000-04:00

A close up of the White House.

2008-07-03T23:42:00.000-04:00

This is a pretty good view from within the World War II Memorial. What you see is identical behind me. One side representing the battles in the Pacific and the other the battles in the Atlantic.