I really am in love with black and white photos. There’s something about their simplicity that I find incredibly appealing. Maybe it’s the way they force you to really focus on the subject matter. Or maybe it’s the way they can convey so much emotion with nothing but light and shadow. Either way, I’m a sucker for a good black and white photo.

And this Aldabra tortoise at the LA Zoo is another perfect subject for a black and white treatment. Aldabra tortoises are among the longest-living animals on earth. They don’t have teeth, but they’re nevertheless well-equipped to feed on a diet of vegetation because of the serrated edges on their “beaks.” Which makes for a nice toothless grin, as you can see below. 🙂