Dusk at the Little Missouri National Grassland, North Dakota

In mid-June of 2006, I was driving home in a rain that had lasted all day and into the evening. But the rain began to let up, and I noticed a growing sliver of blue sky in the west. I lost no time in getting off the pavement and following a National Grassland road westward as fast as the rutted, muddy track would allow.

I arrived at a sandstone bluff overlooking a wooded pasture, with more bluffs visible off in the distance. But what caught my eye were the wildflowers growing in cracks in the sandstone—something one will only see in the springtime, if at all. Usually nothing but lichens can be seen growing on such barren outcrops.

Wildflowers growing in sandstone in western North Dakota

To view in a larger size, click here.

I hope you enjoy viewing this image, which was captured as the last rays of the setting sun backlit the wildflowers.

— Gerald Blank

Night view of the Orlando skyline

On a cool breezy evening in mid-February, my brother Mike and I hauled our cameras and tripods to the roof of the Geico Garage in downtown Orlando to capture some photos of the Orlando skyline. We would have preferred the roof of the nearby Amway Center, but neither of us knew anyone there with access to restricted areas.

Interstate 4 and the Orlando, Florida skyline

We both got the photos we wanted, but I delayed sharing mine for a while. The traffic lights and lampposts along Interstate 4 cut through the nice lines of the blurred headlights and taillights, so I decided to Photoshop them out of the image. It took some time, but I believe the end result was worth it. I hope you think so too!
To see this image in its full panoramic view, click here.