Mike’s Camera in Denver has a yearly “zoo day” where they allow zoo visitors to check out camera equipment for free and try things around the zoo. On this particular zoo day, I grabbed a Nikon 28-300 lens and used it around different parts of the animal exhibits. The lens didn’t wow me too much, but I was able to snag this photo of a painted lorikeet in the bird exhibit.

When I had the opportunity to visit Paris on business, I made sure to allocate time to take photos. Even though Paris is one of the most photographed places on the planet, you can always find something new with fresh light, color, and weather. On this trip, I decided I didn’t want to get mixed up with the tourists in some of the usual spots like the Eiffel Tower, so I took a walk from my hotel to the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur instead.