Just before I left the USA I had the opportunity to photograph one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen – and it was a snake!
This Boelen’s Python had just shed. During the photo shoot in the bright Nashville sun all the rainbow colors appeared on skin.
Besides being a great model this specimen is also great to handle – she rested calmly around my chest as I brought her back to her living space 🙂
It is almost over – Hard to believe, but my 2014 stay in Tennessee is coming to an end already. On Sunday I will be flying back to Switzerland/Germany.
I had a great time meeting up with a lot of old (and new) friends, giving four talks (with a total of over 350 participants), exhibiting at the Nashville First Saturday Art Crawl, exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for three days and spending time at my favorite place in Nashville: The Zoo.
The collage above shows me at two of the talks in Nashville and Cookeville. The collage below shows me having fun at the Nashville Zoo with the Zoo Elephants, a Clouded Leopard and a Boelen’s Python (Pictures by Heather Robertson and Rick Schwartz).
Thanks for welcoming me again in Tennessee – see you again soon!
Day two in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA. Today we encounter a variety of species.
White-tailed Deer, a herbivore, in the early morning …
Wild Turkey, later in the day, …
Coyote, a carnivore, hunting just after the first rain …
Another Black Bear, an omnivore, creating a traffic jam with its appearance …
and some very beautiful scenery – the view from the continental divide!
Another great day in the park 🙂
Day one in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA.
This four-month old bear cub was climbing up a tree while mum was foraging on the ground. It went up and up into the crown of the tree. Many people were watching from the road while the bears gave their “performance”, completely oblivious to their audience.
A great start to a three-day visit to the park.
After this week’s presentations quite a few people have asked me if my images are for sale. They certainly are 🙂 … in a new BOOK 
I have just finished a new book about Thanda Cats. It is a 90 page portfolio with interesting nature/conservation related quotes. It is 12″x12″ (30cmx30cm) and it can be ordered on amazon.com. Just search for THANDA CATS and you will find the book.
In case you prefer an iBook version it is available on store.blurb.com (for iPad/iPhone only). Again, just search for THANDA CATS and you find the download page.
… as PRINTS or CANVASES Most of my images are for sale. You can review a large part of my portfolio (thousands of images) on www.sperka.biz. Just let me know which image you are interested in and I will send you a quote for the requested size to be printed on high quality photo paper or canvas. Most images can also be purchased as a digital high-res download for personal use. info@sperka.com.
I am looking forward to seeing many of my Nashville friends during tonight’s exhibition at the Nashville Art Crawl (https://sperka.info/2014/05/18/back-at-the-first-saturday-nashville-art-crawl)
About hundred people showed up for yesterday evening’s presentation at the Nashville Zoo. I did not expect such a turnout for my Keppers of the Wild talk. I also held the same presentation earlier in the day for the zoo staff, which was also very well attended.
Tomorrow I will be exhibiting at the Nashville First Saturday Art Crawl (Details at http://wp.me/p1rzfb-16C) – ZULULAND – WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE IN THE AFRICAN SOUTH …
… and next Wednesday I will give another talk TWO YEARS IN THE WILD at the Cookeville Camera Club (Details at http://wp.me/p1rzfb-16r).
Today’s image is of a Clouded Leopard at the Nashville Zoo. Drupada, a young male, was giving me “the look”!
It is great to be back in Nashville and seeing a lot of my friends in the Music City USA. Yesterday’s talk at the Brentwood Photography Group went very well and I am looking forward to being at the Nashville Zoo all day tomorrow.
In the evening I will be giving a presentation called “Keepers of the Wild” at the Zoo (The event is free to the public – http://www.nashvillezoo.org/events/lecture).
Yesterday I briefly visited the Zuerich Zoo in Switzerland. And I got my first glimpse of the new Elephant enclosure, a fascinating building within impressive grounds.
It will open in six days. After my return from the USA I will have a good look at this new exhibit, housing Zuerich’s Asian Elephants.
Lots to celebrate: Thanda its ten year anniversary (see http://wp.me/p43t9J-10s) and me living for the last two years in South Africa!
But the next five weeks I will be back in Europe (28 May to 1 June / 16 June to 26 June) and the USA (3 June to 14 June).
So there will be no messages from the African wild, but I hope to blog a few nice travel pictures/stories. Stay tuned ……
PS: During my stay in Tennessee I will give a few presentation about South Africa. For more information go to http://wp.me/p1rzfb-16r and http://wp.me/p1rzfb-16C
ZULULAND – Wildlife and People in the African South
At the June Nashville First Saturday Art Crawl I will exhibit a few of my recent images, taken around my new home in the Heart of Zululand. Unusally for me, I will also show People images besides Wildlife pictures :-). Come and have a look.
The event at the Nashville Arcade is open to the public. I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the Art Crawl!
When: Saturday – June 7, 2014 – 6:00-9:00pm
Where: Ultraviolet Gallery @ Nashville Arcade, Downtown Nashville
Thanks to Amiee Stubbs, who invited me to her UltraViolet Gallery, I am able to exhibit again in Nashville. Amiee is the Official Photographer and Photography Teacher for the Nashville Zoo and Photojournalist for Animal Rescue Corps. She is a very accomplished professional photographer with a wide portfolio (www.amieestubbs.com). But her passion is definitely animal photography!
PS: I will also give a few presentations about Photography, Wildlife and Conservation – For more information go to https://sperka.info/2014/05/15/two-years-in-the-wild-and-keepers-of-the-wild-presentations-in-tennessee/
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 