Some black and white.
Others, white and black.
Intersecting lines,
converging, merging.
Symbols of diversity.
Unity.
Hope, for a conflicted world.
Cheers to you from South Africa’s harmonious zebras~
Some black and white.
Others, white and black.
Intersecting lines,
converging, merging.
Symbols of diversity.
Unity.
Hope, for a conflicted world.
Cheers to you from South Africa’s harmonious zebras~
Can’t scan the QR Codes, damned Hardware!
Sounds like you need to re-load your codex. Or, not. 😉
So precious!
Did you know big cats can’t really focus on their stripes. They make my eyes blurry too!
That’s fascinating. Now I see the connection between the zebra and the dazzle camouflage of world war one ships, the camouflage having been suggested by a zoologist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage
Beautiful and stripy!
Handsome critters aren’t they!
I didn’t know about blurry eyes. Actually it makes perfect sense when I look at these photos.
Yeah, big cat’s vision gets confused by the stripes. I never understood this until I took a bunch of distance shots of them in the bush. From a distance they start to blur and almost irritate your eyes. Remarkable…..
A great symbol for diversity and unity, Cindy. Your closeups are amazing, but I really like the waterhole scene.
I like those shots too because they give perspective, but they make my eyes blur, much like they do the big cats I learned~
That’s so interesting about the lines. It’s like camouflage, too–they seem to blend into the scenery.
Such beautiful animals!
On Sun, Jun 28, 2015 at 7:32 PM, WordPress.com wrote:
> cindy knoke posted: ” Some black and white. Others, white and black. > Intersecting lines, converging, merging. Symbols of diversity. Unity. Hope, > for a conflicted world. Cheers to you from South Africa’s harmonious > zebras~ “
Awwww, hugs and peace to you dear Eliza~ <3
Wonderful photographs and hope is a wonderful thing.
We all need more of it!
My great grandson wants to come and live with you because you live near those striped horses.
I keep telling him they are zebras but he says they are horses.
Great shots of these wonderful animals.
Oh how adorable. I speak kid big time and I think he is absolutely right!! Tell him there are zebras, oooops, I mean striped horses, in California. They free range up in Big Sur near Hearst’s castle……
Beautiful zebras! I love them, great photos! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Hugz & happy Sunday evening to you guys (and Flora)! <3
A party of lines 🙂
and a party line! I love it!! 🙂
Nice photographs Cindy. 🙂
Thanks Ranu~
They are beautiful animals, look like a piece of fine art up close. Good choice of words describing this set of photos. Almost was looking for a hidden message, but yes, diversity, but unity, says it all about our conflicting world of values doesn’t it?
Yes too much conflict about diversity, and too little unity….
That has seemed to be the case in this country (US) for a long time, and more evident just recently. The signs and times of things changing.
Sometimes animals seem to have things figured out a lot better then humans.
What beautiful creatures!
They are so much fun to be around. We did a walking safari amongst them. I was a tad nervous about the rhinos and cape buffalo, but the zebras were cool!
I love this! Inspiration for our world!
Sometimes I think animals will lead us, if we take the time to watch them……
Yes, I think so!
<3
I love the “stripped horses”
They got it going on don’t they! I love them too~ <3
They are so lovely…almost unbelievable. I understand the blurry thing…it’s the same as when someone on Tv wears a tie or a blouse that is striped and the light seems to bounce off of it in all directions…I’m thinking of the horizontal stripes that ladies avoid in clothing, and a possible cartoon where the zebra wife says to the zebra husband: “do you think this outfit makes me look fat?.”…… but
whether it’s black on white, or white on black…it’s beautiful. Thank you, Cindy, for bringing this to us who would not see it otherwise….
I love seeing two zebra side by side together. The lines start to bleed into each other and you can’t really tell them apart. I love this merging aspect of zebras. As for the looking fat question, I do think black on white is probably more flattering for the figure in even bright light situations…….or is it white on black??? I get so confused about this fashion stuff……
😉 😎
Fabulous! <3
Alison
Awww gracias mi amiga~ <3
It looks as if you were so close to the zebra…
Yes, you can walk amongst them on walking safaris with rangers. They seem unperturbed as long as we didn’t directly move up to them
Awesome zebras!
Aren’t they gorgeous!
How amazing is nature, the perfect camouflage, and I’ve read that every zebra has different markings. Great photos Cindy…
I bet it’s true, like human finger prints! Remarkable~
they are so beautiful!
They are and they don’t like people riding or putting bridles oon them. Good for them! Smart zebras~
The beauty, the effortless elegance, . quite breathtaking… thank you Cindy, simply wonderful…whatever the Creator is, She understands beauty and perfect symmetry !!!!
I love you! What an awesome comment. I remember my son’s third grade teacher, being thrilled over one of his stories and pictures depicting God coming out of the heavens to smite the farmer who was going to kill Wilbur the pig in Charlotte’s Web. My son captioned the picture of God in the heavens, “She is VERY MAD!”
Laughing…….You just brought back that memory!
What a delicious story Cindy… lovely… please forgive somewhat tardy reply… going through deep waters at the moment…
Oh dear, I hope you are okay Valerie.
I see these and really, really wish I had something more than a Kodak Instamatic when I travelled through East Africa back in the 60s. 🙂 Such beautiful symmetry. BTW, I’ll be taking a couple of months off starting next week, Cindy. See you in September. –Curt
Oh, I wish you had a better camera too. Those pictures, like your memories and stories, would be priceless now. I remember watching my grandfather’s super 8 movies of Kenya when I was a kid. What would I give to get those back. Whole ways of life have disappeared.
I hope your going away is for good and happy reasons and wish you only the best Curt. I’ll be here when you get back.
Definitely for good and happy reasons, Cindy, starting with five grandsons descending on us. 🙂 –Curt
Yay! Enjoy my friend.
Cindy, what beautiful Zebra pictures. They look almost not real with their stripes. Thank you for sharing! Hugs! Veraiconica
I know, they look like someone painted them! <3
Hi Cindy: God how we’ve missed your blog and pictures. Inion & I have been blogging ghosts for the past year. Between working two jobs plus writing book 2 in our P-7 series it’s been a juggling feat. lol But we’re back in the blogosphere visiting our old haunts. (Yours first and foremost) What beautiful pics of these magnificent creatures. You really are an Artist in every sense of the word. Sharing this now so that others can enjoy the beauty. 😉 xoxo <3 Headed off to knock around your blog and play catch up!! lol xo
So wonderful to hear from you two! I missed you but can well imagine how busy you have been with your awesome books, writing, interviews, publicity and all the associated tasks of being succesful authors. So jazzed you stopped by and look forward to catching up on all the new developments. Cheers and hugs and gratitude. Your visit makes me smile! <3 <3
Yipes…Stripes! !!! …or are those just jailbird horses, Cuz?
Funny isn’t it. I think striped jail outfits were to make prisoners stand out, yet the zebras spots do exactly the opposite for their predators, ie., the big kitty kats.
Ebony and Ivory. Nothing ist just black oder just white. Wonderful!
Not even people. We’re all blends!
Wonderful captures – really a beautiful animal, almost like a body-painted horse… 😀
Exactly! When I was a kid traveling in Mexico, they used to paint donkeys with stripes and charge tourists to take photos of them. I always felt sorry for the donkeys. Mother Nature painted these zebras!
Wow Cindy, you captured them so very beautiful, these amazing animals 😀
Aren’t they simply gorgeous creatures! They are tough too to survive in Africa.
Yes they are 😉
Another beaut of a post… great photos…
You sir, have the most beautiful country. It presents an unfair advantage for photographers and I miss it already!
Precioso pelaje el de las cebras. Y dicen que no hay dos iguales. ¡Me encantan!
Mi encanta tan bien my amiga y gracias y abrazos! <3 <3
Beautiful harmony. 🙂
Wish we humans could learn from them…….
Oh how wonderful to see zebras this up-close! This brings back memories of my time at Safari West in Santa Rosa, CA. They had zebras on the premises but they kept the vehicle they drove us tourists in well away from the zebras due to zebras’ reputation of being very tough creatures who have a strong sense of territory! Thanks for bringing those memories back and more! <3 ~Lynn
That sounds exciting! We hiked amongst them with a park ranger. They didn’t react with any hostility, but like all wild animals we gave them space, and didn’t directly approach them. It may have to do with the fact that they were free to run away from us if we got too close, whereas the zebras you saw may have been in enclosures. Plus the most accustomed wild animals are to people, the more likely they are to react in an unpredictable manner, like lions in lion parks raised around lots of tourists.
Yes, you’re absolutely correct here! As I recall the situation, yes, the zebras had room to roam but Safari West is an enclosed area and see people passing by frequently. This makes so much sense!
It is a different experience to see animals in their environment where you are the non-local so to speak and they are the locals. It feels right to me and better.
Cindy, your ability to see, frame and capture wildlife photographs never disappoints…beautiful color shots of Black and White.
Awwww, so kind and very appreciated too!
As well as being beautifully stripey, I’ve always admired their more solid frame. They look strong. Have you ever heard of people riding zebras in modern times? Wonderful pics of an animal I find fascinating to look at, Cindy.
They are strong and tough and can break a lions jaw with a kick from their hind legs. People have trained zebras, but they are unpredictable, and tend to act out aggresively making them not great as deomestic animals. They are wild creatures, evolved to survive in the harsh African plains. So happy you enjoyed them Jane. They seem so intelligent to me.
sind doch schöne Tiere, eine gute Woche, Klaus
Vielen danke mein Freund und Froliche woche!
Truly amazing photography, Cindy. They look adorable!
Aren’t they just remarkably gorgeous!
love those zebras – great photos!
Merci beaucoup mon ami! <3
Wonderful verticals!
Thanks Brenda, and even some horizontals too!
Yes, and glorious curves, even when snoozing!
😉 <3
Great pictures! We took a balloon ride over the Masai Mara and looked at the herds of gnus moving below us, interspersed with zebras. It was amazing how well camouflaged they were. And each is just a bit or more different.
I love the way the grazers mix together in Africa. Each relies on the different species abilities to differentially spot predators. Remarkable!
Zebras have always been a charmer for me. It may be their attractive stripes.
These are phenomenal photos Cindy. Your amazing work seems almost routine.
Awwww, honored and so appreciative! Thank you Eddie~
Oh wow Cindy – how I’ve missed your photography! What a great series on the Zebras – love seeing the close-up shots.
They are just fascinating animals. I loved watched them from a distance in herds……
Great captures of Zebras! I know it not easy to capture these vertices so beautifully!
They tend to confuse the camera lens, and blur in groups or distances!
That’s good to know. 🙂 Thank you, Cindy!
Cindy, these are fabulous pictures of zebra. I am amazed at how detailed their stripes are. Have a great day. <3
Beautiful creature, believe it or not I never saw a picture of a zibra ( I spelled that wrong, no spell check in this computer) in such a close shot
Awwww, I am so glad I got to show you one my friend! My honor~
Well it was quite the majestic creature when you see it up close
Gorgeous!
All beauties! Great shots and message! Namaste, Ellen
Namaste and thank you Ellen! <3
gorgeous post 🙂
Awwww, so kind! <3
Zebras are just so cute — they really do look like horses wearing striped pajamas!!
When you look around their eyes, the stripes just stop, like a painted in mid-stroke!
They must go through misery playing sports, what with all those refs hanging abut! 🙂
Cracking up……never thought of this stressor! 😉
Mother nature does some magical work indeed! Zebra’s have been a strong presence in my life for many years now, reminding me to stand out in the crowd while engaging in support from my own herd. Stunning and inspiring photos once again!
It is a wise human who listens to the lessons of the wild creatures. They have so much to share and show us! <3 <3
So very beautifully marked they are Cindy! And I once read that zebra young can find their mothers by the stripe configurations. Imagine?
Wow! I didn’t know that. Thanks for telling me!
Fantastic…every time you make the photographs more and more amazing… 🙂 Moreover, I like zebras… 🙂
Zebras are exquisite animals and I am so glad you like them!
I did read that stripes offer an advantage to the zebra inasmuch as, when in the herd, it confuses the monochrome sight of the lion. Well who’d have thought it. 🙂 🙂
Yes, exactly. I noticed that it bothered by eyes when watching them at a distance in telephoto. They blurred and you had it keep resting your eyes. The camera also seemed to get confused. Pretty amazing isn’t it!
Yep. No one can see me in my stripey pajamas. 😀
You have tested this theory no doubt…..
Hi friend
I love the photos!!!!! No doubt top of Bucket List. I’m not the greatest with links. I have passed a Challenge to you in case you’re not notified.
🙂
Thank you! I will look for the challenge!
I posted it recently, you can probably see on my page. It’s actually lots of fun. I’m awarded out. 🙂
Yes, I got awarded out too, which is why I can’t do them anymore, even though I greatly appreciate them~
Reblogged this on Voices and Visions.
Gratitude my friend for a fellow lover of the the wild ones~ <3
Fantastic images, how could anyone better that design?
I agree, it could not be done! 🙂
In love with your blog! Saw your posts they are Awesome!!
Welcome! It is a pleasure to meet you! I am off now to explore your blog~
Let me know how you felt! 😉
Let me know how you felt! 😉
Love your blog! <3
Coolest tattoos on the planet! 🙂
Oh love it!!!! Agree with it too! 🙂
Only a Deity with a great sense of humour would have painted a horse in Magpie colours.
Oh I love the roll of the last few comments! It’s a showcase of the creativity and humor of bloggers! And more to the point, I agree, God has to have the best sense of humor in all the universes!! 😉
einen guten Tag wünsche ich, Klaus
Danke, dass du mein Freund und ich hoffe, Sie haben einen schonen Tag auch!
das ist nett, vielen Dank
<3
I love the zebras! Such cool animals. Fabulous photogrsps!
Thank you Kate and Happy Tuesday!
You live a most fantastic life, Cindy! 🙂
I try! We only have one dance on this planet after all~
Wow!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE zebras!!! These photos are wonderful and I simply love your words…so true! Thanks for sharing Cindy!! <3
Thank you more for this thougtful and kind comment Lori and cheers to you my friend!
What a beautiful animal. I truly hope man is not poaching & eating them, or selling their skin.
Cindy, I want all animals to have a safety zone & dignity!
Yes, I feel the same, I did see some vendors selling zebra and impala skins. I didn’t see anyone buying them though~
Good to know!
Reminds me of my zebra cake > http://fae-magazine.com/2013/07/11/zebra-cake/
😀 )))
Oh that looks beatiful Fae! I used to make a type of zebra cake when I was young with whipping cream and chocolate wafers that made a zebra effect too. Yours looks much better!
Beautiful striped animals 🙂
They are and I am glad you like them!
They are so beautiful and the stripes are so unique. We loved your words, Cindy, that made it even more special 🙂 Pawkisses for a wonderful day 🙂 <3
Awwww, bloggers like you make blogging worthwhile!
Your photos are so fabulous, were you close or using a zoom? It looks like you’re having a wonderful time.
We got close and I used zoom too. So glad you enjoyed Charlotte and cheers to you my friend~
Lovely photos, Cindy! I smiled at your dialogue about black and white vs. white and black…I’ve never been able to decide which color the stripes are supposed to be, because of the diversity 🙂
Exactly, just like people! 🙂
The second to last shot is simply perfect…makes me dream of Africa all over again. Wonderful shot – zebras are definitely cool 🙂
Yes, we had to go back a second time, and who knows if we will go again! I have a better zoom shot of the zebra herd I posted earlier. I love these too because you can observe whole herds and their behavior which is endlessly fascinating. Hope you are well my friend~
There is something about Africa that I think will always want to draw people back…life at its most natural I suppose. Cheers Cindy!
And to you my friend~
Are there no photos of the vertices bathing?
No, I didn’t see them in the water but there were crocodiles in the river so they were wise.
Beautiful!
Mil grazi~
Beautiful … but the question still remains … why do zebras have stripes? 😉 … and the last I knew, there is no agreement.
Seems to be confusing for big cat vision~
Zebras have always fascinated me, but I’ve never seen them in the wild. Marvelous photos Cindy!
So pleased you like zebras too Maria & cheers to you~
Such beautiful creatures!
Beautiful and tough too!
Beautiful and amazing creatures to say the least! 🙂
They are pretty amazing I agree my friend!
Fantastic pictures of the amazing Zebra’s Cindy, great pictures, I did go back over them as it does appear they are white with black stripes or vice versa, bit mesmerising.
Interesting comment by one of your followers, in that he states theyoung can identify the parent by the stripe configuration.
Enjoyed that post.
I know, I had no idea about this either! Bascially, I get the bulk of my information from reading blogs these days and I learn new things everyday from blogs. I am always quoting a blog. Bloggers are so smart and creative and they aren’t selling tragedy like the media.
I agree Cindy, it is amazing the amount of knowledge we can glean from fellow bloggers, your posts are beautifully descriptive through your pictures, kindest regards.
Visa versa 2 U X 2!
I just think zebras are the most brilliant and unlikely pieces of nature’s designs.
Like maybe God was having fun when she made them! 😉
Beautiful photo’s 😉
Awwww, very kind!
They always remind me of fingerprints.
I think that is an excellent observation and analogy~
Are you sure that u didn’t just take horses and paint stripes on them?
I did, all the zebras in Africa……but don’t tell anyone! 😉
Wonderful!
black and white. They really stand out – no camouflage?
i love their differnecies.
Apparently the black and white geometric pattern is confusing for the vision of the big cats. I know my camera lens seemed to have problems with it when photographing the herds at full zoom. They started blurring together, looking like one massive confusing creature.
I never thought of that possibility! interesting. Thank you for telling me.
Hmm, I see!! Not retired after all..!!!
“Here, come lie down on the couch and tell me what you see in the patterns above”…. 😀
Just kidding.. beautiful pictures.. Although I have to admit, staring at the first fellow’s snout and “intersecting lines” was like using some exotic Chakra meditation technique.. stare for too long and I will probably tell you my deepest secrets 😀
Laughing, it all hinges on distracting concentration. If you stay focused on what you chose, no one can ever distract your concentration. But, that said, what do you see in the intersecting lines????? Just kidding & cheers to you my friend~
Aha, I knew it.. working for the DoD still.. looking for a Manchurian candidate I am sure 🙂
What I saw in the intersecting lines on the forehead is a doorway (and no other innuendoes there, but an infinite doorway is what I thought. Frightening thought, fear of the unknown).
Yes, thank you for the kind words. Yes, staying focused is the most difficult thing in the world for frivolous old me. But thank you, those are encouraging words at the moment.
Oh I love the idea of the intersections forming a door. How hopeful and spiritual! Sending you lots of encouragement!
Thanks, Cindy. Take care you.. love your blog.. (I am the farthest thing from spiritual as possible)
<3
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Zebras are one of a kind. Have you heard them bark?
Is the bark the sort of clipped warning they do? I have heard them bray.
You can’t imagine how shocked I was while dozing a bit when we were driving along the California coast soon after returning from our first trip to South Africa and I saw these zebras grazing with cows. I assumed I was dreaming. I said, “Did I just see wild zebras grazing with cows?”
My husband, who is not a native Californian like me, seemed surprised, I didn’t know about them.
Hearst imported them in service to his amazing ego and palace. They are thriving so many decades later. Good for them!