Ok, so this isn’t what I normally shoot. But it is related to renewables and the environment because yesterday this car, which runs on clean diesel, won the Michelin Green X Challenge for leaving the smallest environmental impact in the American Le Mans races. I spent the past few days in Atlanta shooting GT and Prototype cars for Green Racing, and let me tell you, this car was fast. I’ve never shot something so fast. And yes, I now know what GT and Prototype even mean. This was the first time my day job at the Department of Energy overlapped with my photography, and I admit the racetrack is exciting. And it just so happens that this was my favorite photo of the weekend, and probably my favorite car, and it won.

I’ve been missing the mountains a lot lately, and while going through some of my older photos I realized I never published this one. My friend Wendy gets to look out her window into Bear Creek every morning in Telluride, Colorado. I remember when I used to be able to see Mount Dallas, Mount Emma and Wilson Peak all from my windows. Ah, the good old days. I guess it will just make me appreciate them so much more when I do get back to some place that has the steep, snowy peaks I love. Until then I will soak up the sweet smell, golden hues and satisfying crunch of fall leaves on the east coast that are just now showing signs of turning. Autumn on the east coast does seem to last longer than in the Rockies. That’s a bonus.

Oh my gosh. Check out this tongue. All coiled up and incredibly long. I saw this moth at the Botanic Garden and was mesmerized. One thing I’ve noticed here is that the landscapes may not wow you. They definitely don’t wow me. But then again cities just aren’t my thing. So in order to fulfill my cravings for nature, wildlife and wilderness, I have to focus on things much much smaller. I inspect things closely. It’s flowers, birds and bugs (and dogs for fun and good practice), instead of elk, coyotes and 14,000-foot peaks. Maybe I’ll encounter a bear this fall in the mountains, but they’re not exactly easy to find. Perhaps this is a good thing though because in dramatic landscapes I often overlook the small things – and the small things are just as important.

In between the Capitol building, a maze of roadways and blockades, and a spattering of really ugly government buildings lies the United States Botanic Garden. I often sneak there during my lunch breaks.  And as you see here, its not hard to understand why. It’s gorgeous, with all sorts of tropical plants, winding walkways, trickling fountains and pools, and a massive greenhouse that I never want to leave. It’s as if it were designed by filmmaker Tim Burton, artist Georgia O’Keefe, writer Frances Hodgson Burnett and botanist John Bartram. Beautiful orchids and roses neighbor cacti and succulents, ferns and mosses, and bromeliads and banana trees. Seriously, if I could set up my computer in there I’d be one really happy worker.

Take one amazing cattle dog who after a weekend with three pits thinks they’re pretty darn cool (Bonnie); one rescued-from-the-streets-of-Richmond lovebug (Ella); and add one giant goofball with a huge smile, the softest ears ever and some mad cuddle skills (Moby); and one sweet and silly brindle babe who thinks she’s a lapdog (Mara). That equals a better-than-reality-show event not to be missed. From left to right, the four rescues: Moby, Ella, Mara and Bonnie. Moby and Mara and the newest members of the pack, recently adopted and literally saved from death by days by my inspiring parents. Anyone scared of pit bulls should think again. These guys have learned to heel and sit in two weeks, they cuddle with the best of them and they sneak kisses almost as much as they melt hearts