Life with Dylan

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  • Today is World Elephant Day!

    Today we celebrate the majestic beauty of elephants. Let’s keep ivory where it belongs.

    Ivory belongs to the elephants. 

  • Birthday fun with Yun Zi at the San Diego Zoo

    Last week Yun Zi turned 3 years old and we spent the day celebrating with the pandas at the San Diego Zoo. Arriving just as the zoo opened, we headed straight to the panda exhibit to watch Yun Zi get his ice cake.

    The zoo was still buzzing about the birth of the new panda, but today was all about Yun Zi. Dylan has become quite fond of Yun Zi and even wrote his birthday on the calendar so we wouldn’t forget.

    Yun Zi’s exhibit was decorated with several boxes full of treats and bamboo – and of course he had an ice cake with a big #3 on top. The cake was almost as big as him, and in true kid fashion he went right for the top. The decorations didn’t last too long and this was the only picture I got before Yun Zi began to demolish the cake.

    After breaking the #3, Yun Zi moved on to the sweet and sour bamboo box that was perched high atop a tree branch. Being the inquisitive three-year-old that he is, Yun Zi wasn’t thinking about the box falling.

    Well, that was fun. Now there is more bamboo on the ground for him to eat. He liked it so much that he decided to eat double-fisted, er should I say double-pawed.

    For more pictures of Yun Zi and the pandas at the San Diego Zoo visit my flickr album.

  • Always more to learn about helping endangered species

    One of my favorite places to learn more about helping endangered species is the public library. I started taking Dylan to the library when he was just a toddler and he always went right to the animal books. As he has grown, his love for animals continued to grow too and now the library is a place we visit on a regular basis.

    Sure, there is plenty of information at my fingertips on the internet, but I love the way a library smells. The books that line the shelves for as far as the eye can see and the quiet atmosphere.

    The more I read about helping endangered species, the more I want to learn. A friend once told my son, never stop learning. Keep learning more and you will be one step ahead of the others. This advice was given in a conversation about going to college and becoming a zookeeper, but it can be applied to almost anything.

    Whether you want to learn more about your job, your hobby, or just go sit someplace quiet – the public library is the perfect spot. Sometimes just sitting there I can feel the knowledge calling to me. Sounds weird I know, but it’s true. Sometimes just walking up and down the rows of books and looking at the subjects will spark a new interest.

    Our last visit to the library was right after a visit to the San Diego Zoo. On this visit, Dylan had spent almost an hour talking with one of the volunteers at the orangutan exhibit. He wanted to learn more about the New World and Old World monkeys, so that is what he did. He pulled books on chimps, orangutans, and gorillas. Learning all he can about the animals and soaking up the data like a sponge soaks up water.

    He has also recently taken an interest in photography, so he checked out a book on photography.

    I may be too old to start a new career as a zookeeper, but I can always learn more about helping endangered species. The more I learn, the more I can help and the more I can share with my readers. These are the books that I chose to take home.

    As Rick Schwartz says, “Always explore, Always learn more”

    What do you want to learn more about?

    When was the last time you visited the public library?

  • In less than 5 minutes you can help save a rhino

    Do you want to help save a rhino? What would you say if I told you that just by voting on some pictures, taking only a few minutes of your time, you could help save a rhino? 


    The 2013 IRKA/IRF Rhino Photo Contest had 104 contestants this year – and I was one of them! The 12 photos with most votes will be featured in the 2013 Rhino Conservation Calendar. 


    Beautiful pictures are what makes a calendar special and I would be honored to have my photograph included in this calendar. The more calendars sold means more awareness for the endangered rhinos and more money to help keep them alive. 


    The funds raised from the sale of the calendar will go to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (Yayasan Badak Indonesia or YABI).

    Because so many rhinos are being killed by poachers, we need sanctuaries like YABI to protect and breed the rhinos before more species become extinct. YABI is where Ratu, one of the three adult female rhinos at Indonesia’s Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, gave birth to a 60-lb male calf, named Andatu. Not only was this Ratu’s first baby, but it was the first Sumatran rhino ever born in captivity in Indonesia and only the fifth ever born in captivity worldwide. For more information on the rhino conservation program at YABI, visit the International Rhino Foundation website.


    I am not asking for anything but your time, so if you can spare 5 minutes to help save a rhino I would really appreciate it. Here are the details you need to know.

    1. Voting will be from Aug.6th-20th 
    2. ANYONE can vote, so please pass this along to your friends and family. 
    3. You can only vote once and the photos are “anonymous” to prevent any bias. 
    4. You may only choose a photo once and you must choose 9 photos in total for your vote to count.
    5. The 12 photos that receive the highest amount of votes will be featured in the 2013 Rhino Conservation Calendar and the photographer will receive credit.
    6. Photo winners will be announced September 1st! 
    Please click the Survey Monkey link below and vote for your favorite 9 rhino photos!

    www.surveymonkey.com/s/2013RhinoConservationCalendar 

    Oh, and I happen to really like photo #18 (wink ,wink)

    If you would like to learn more about the endangered rhino and what is being done to save the rhinos around the world, check out IRKA, International Rhino Foundation, and World Rhino Day.

  • The possibilities are endless …

    when you give a child a camera. 

  • The day I gave my child photography tips

    I have taught my child many things over the years, but giving my child photography tips was not one of them. At least not until now. Ever since I started taking photography more seriously, Dylan has been begging asking for a camera of his own. He sees the images I take on the computer when we come home and we talk about them – what makes them good, what makes them bad, what I could do differently next time.

    Before I run out and buy him a camera of his own, I decided to see if he was serious about taking pictures. So on his birthday I gave him my old camera to use on our trip to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo. He did not care that the camera was old or that the flash didn’t work. He was just happy to have a camera of his own and wanted some photography tips. He said he wanted to learn how to take pictures like me so people would like them and share them.

    Considering I still have a lot to learn about photography, I started with the basics – what I like to call my 4 most important child photography tips.

    1. Keep the wrist strap on at all times so you don’t drop the camera.

    2. Take as many pictures as you want.

    3. Take your time and hold the camera steady.

    4. Have fun!

    Once we got that at of the way he was on his own. Well, not really. I explained a few of the settings on the camera and told him he could experiment with them, but I did help him choose what would be the best settings to use on the animals.

    Finding a focal point. He was focusing on the flamingos egg and then obviously he liked the goose feet.

    I was trying to explain how to get a reflection in the water, but he did get a nice shot of the duck.
    Practicing getting a picture centered and then the rule of thirds with the meerkats.
    Look around and take a picture of nature. He chose the waterfall. 
    The art of zooming in and then the opposite – showing some background to give perspective.

    Day one was complete and I was pretty impressed with his photography skills. Especially since he is only 9 years old and this was his first time really taking pictures. Had I given enough simple child photography tips? Could I expand and get more detailed the next day at the zoo?

    Apparently the answer was yes. Just look at this picture of Penelope the Galapagos tortoise.

    He got so excited with trying out various settings and took almost 200 pictures. Granted these are the best out of those 200 pictures, he has a real interest in photography. Now when we go to the zoo he doesn’t rush from one exhibit to the next. He takes his time, waits for the perfect shot, and walks away smiling.

    He told me the best photography tip that I gave him was not to waste his time if the subject was too far away. I love that we have yet another thing in common that we can enjoy together.

    Dylan, the photographer

    With the exception of the photos I took of him, all photos are courtesy of Dylan Fryer.

  • Summer Safari is still going strong at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

    You don’t need to travel far to enjoy a Summer Safari with the animals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Africa as you are greeted by African Chief Kahle and the beating of an African drum circle. The children can make an African bead bracelet and get their very own safari hat for free at Safari Base Camp.

    The Summer Safari entertainment is awesome. You can plan your day ahead of time when you view the show schedule on the San Diego Zoo Safari Park website – and make sure to save some time to see the Animal Encounters at Safari Base Camp.

    Your Summer Safari won’t be complete without taking part in the African Extravaganza that occurs on the Summer Safari Stage. It is filled with music, dancing, drums, and more. Check the map for exact show times.

    Even though we visit the Safari Park on a regular basis, Summer Safari is always something we look forward to. There are so many great photo opportunities and you really feel like you are on safari with the authentic Summer Safari entertainment.

    Along with the sights and sounds of Summer Safari, you can enjoy what the park has to offer year-round. Take a ride on the Africa Tram to see rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, and wildebeest or maybe you want to book one of the many Behind the Scenes Safaris to get a closer look at the park wildlife. Walking the park is a favorite of mine – Gorilla Forest, African Outpost, Lion Camp, Elephant Valley, Condor Ridge, and of course Tiger Territory.

    This annual event is still going strong, so get there before it ends on August 19.

    Summer Safari hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. so there is lots of time to see everything and enjoy a day with your family at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. You can also follow the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on twitter and Facebook to get details of new events and my favorite, new animals births at the park.

  • What is a Blue Moon?

    We’ve all heard the saying Once in a Blue Moon, but what is a Blue Moon?

    Folklore has many explanations – the second full moon in a month, the third full moon in a season with four full moons, and some believe the Blue Moon has mystical powers.

    Either way, a Blue Moon isn’t actually blue in color – but when you add a night sky filled with moving clouds, it is definitely magical.

    Last night was the first full moon of August and there will be another full moon on August 31, hence the Blue Moon. Since there is a full moon approximately every 29.5 days, seeing two full moons in one month is something quite special – something that doesn’t happen but Once in a Blue Moon.

    I did not crop this picture because I wanted to show just how bright the moon was. The sky was black with very few visible stars from where I was.  As each cloud pattern passed by the moon, the full moon illuminated them, creating shadows and depth – at times giving each cloud a silvery-blue cast.

    Mother Nature has a way of creating some pretty amazing things and the Blue Moon is one of them. Be sure to watch for the second full moon this month, the “real” Blue Moon, on the 31st.

    Oh, and if you think a Blue Moon is rare, just wait for 2018 when this phenomenon will happen not once, but Twice in a  Blue Moon. To learn more about the phases of the moon, visit the EarthSky website.

  • Goodbye summer – I will miss you

    Today is my first day back to work after having the month of July off. I go back to work with mixed emotions. Part of me is so happy to get back and do busy work, see my friends, and meet the new students – but the other part of me will be missing the lazy days of summer.

    The late nights and sleeping in. The carefree days of nothing planned and then ending up at a park. Oh, and the infamous late night trips to get a frozen yogurt before they close. The not wearing makeup – now that part I will really miss! However, I have grown to like myself with less makeup and may just keep it that way.

    Either way, getting back to a routine will take a few days. We always have the weekends to look forward to right?

  • Panda Love

    The last few days have been nothing but panda talk at my house … not to mention the various media outlets. Bai Yun made history on Monday when she gave birth to her 6th cub at the San Diego Zoo. This was a high risk pregnancy because of her age and ever since learning that she was showing signs of pregnancy, my son and I have been keeping our fingers crossed that all went well.

    We have spent hours watching the Panda Cam trying to catch a glimpse of the cub, but Bai Yun has been holding the cub very close. It amazes me that such big animal can hold something so small and not harm it.

    Today a video was released by the San Diego Zoo showing Bai Yun leave her cub for a brief moment to get a drink of water and the squeals were non-stop from my home. I am sure they could be heard down the block. The baby is just too cute.

    More than just a successful high risk pregnancy, this panda birth makes the San Diego Zoo the most successful Panda Breeding Center outside of China. That is some pretty big conservation news to brag about. Way to go San Diego Zoo and congratulations to Bai Yun and Gao Gao.

    I took the above photo of Gao Gao on July 4, 2012