Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Pops Photos
Distant Desire
The lighthouse at Kewaunee, Wisconsin sits at the end of a very long, concrete pier. I was on the beach when I took this photo, just moments before the sun would rise.
Click on the photo to see a larger version.
Keen Green
When asked what category of photography I prefer (such as landscapes, nature, portrait, etc.), I often say, “I just shoot whatever catches my eye.” This is a prime example.
I was climbing up and down a ladder, taking storm windows off my house, when something caught my eye. It was a little flash of green. I paused my work to get a better look.
There is a propane tank next to my house that rests on cement blocks. On the corner of one of those blocks was this little green bug – no longer than the width of your thumbnail. It was frantically skittering over the concrete, but staying in one general area. It was such a beautiful, iridescent, green – made even more spectacular by it’s dance in the bright sunlight. I couldn’t just ignore it. I went to get my camera. (Contrary to what some might think, I don’t have my camera hanging around my neck every moment of the day.)
I didn’t have time to fool around. The way the bug was moving, I was concerned he’d slip off into the grass and never be seen again. My camera had a long, 300 mm lens on it – the kind I use to get close-ups of distant objects like a lighthouse or the moon. (With that lens, I think I can see Alaska from my house.) No time to change to a shorter lens, so I grabbed it and dashed back out.
The bug was still there, but still erratic. I tried getting a ground-level shot, but it’s movements made focusing impossible. I decided to shoot it from above, where it’s side to side movements wouldn’t change the distance to my lens so much. The problem was, I couldn’t hold the camera high enough to get within the focal range of the long lens. I ended up climbing a couple of rungs up the ladder to get my shot in focus. I took several shots. This is the one that was most in focus. Not bad, considering I was probably 7 feet off the ground.
I didn’t notice the white dots when just looking at it. I guess the dazzling green distracted me.
A friend helped me identify this as a six-spotted tiger beetle. You can read more about them here: http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/six-spotted_tiger_beetle.htm
(Click the photo to see a larger version.)
A Flower in Medusa’s Hair
This is a poppy from our home flowerbed. The poppy buds in the background remind me of snakes.
Medusa is the character in classic Greek mythology whose hair was turned into snakes.
You can view a larger version of this image by clicking on it.
Morning Friends
Up before sunrise, a couple of friends talk while waiting for the fish to bite. They are fishing off the end of the Kewaunee, WI lighthouse pier. Kewaunee is a small harbor village on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
Click the image to view a larger version.
Slippers for the Lady
These are yellow Lady Slipper Orchids found growing wild at Potawatomi State Park in Door County, Wisconsin.
According to Wikepedia… Lady’s slipper orchids (also known as lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids) are the orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioidea. They are characterised by the slipper-shaped pouches (modified labellums) of the flowers – the pouch traps insects so they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit pollinia, thus fertilizing the flower.
To view a larger version of this photo, simply click on it.
Full Moon of Mystery
This was supposed to be the Perigree Moon of 2012. For all my efforts, I was unable to capture it full and unhindered.
On this particular evening, I went to the shore in Kewaunee, WI. I was hoping to catch a nice view of the moon rising near the Kewaunee lighthouse. As you can see from the photo to the right, thick clouds kept that from becoming a reality.
The large image above is the best shot I was able to get after the moon had moved up in the sky – still shrouded by the clouds. It’s not what I was going for, but I kind of like the mysterious look of it.
For some reason, this photo actually reminds me of another photo of mine which, ironically, is an image of the sun: Sailing Past the Sun
To see a larger version of either image, just click on it.
Winter Beach Morning – sepia
I can’t believe I hadn’t posted this image before. I’ve been working on bringing images to my sales site and discovered I’d never posted this on the blog. I’d posted the color version in March of 2011. (See it HERE)
This is a winter view of Crescent Beach at Algoma, Wisconsin on the western shore of Lake Michigan. I took this early in the morning following a huge snow storm. The snow was still blowing, but the camera didn’t pick it up.
To see a larger version, click on the photo.
Poppy’s Purple Passion
This time of year you’ll see me post a lot of flowers. After the long winter, they are hard to resist.
This is a close -up of the very first Poppy to pop in Sara’s flower bed. I took the photo two days ago and it’s already gone – the victim of a strong breeze. However, there are several others that have taken it’s place.
Poppies are some of our favorites. I suspect I’ll post more before the blooming is done.
Click the photo to see a larger version.
Solar Eclipse – Partial
I almost missed this. I had heard that we might be able to view a smidge of the “Ring of Fire” eclipse that the West Coast was going to experience. Even though I knew about it, I had written it off because the weather forecast talked of rain starting in the afternoon. Naturally, I assumed, we wouldn’t even see a sunset and just put it out of my mind.
As it happens, while working on some other photos on my computer, I noticed an odd color in the sky and, out of habit, took a look. Then I remembered! And, then I dashed for my camera. As I ran out the door I told my wife to look out the window and I would be outside taking pictures.
We only saw a partial eclipse, but it put on a nice show any way.
See a larger version of this image by clicking on the photo.
Dandy Among Daisies
I greatly enjoy Macro photography. I love looking at small things up close because you see so much that usually goes unnoticed. This flower is a perfect example.
Who knew the humble dandelion was so intricate and delicate and, dare I say, beautiful? I found this common dandelion in our yard by a clump of emerging daisies. (That white spot to the right of the dandelion is a daisy bud about to burst open.) I was surprised at what I saw when I brought the image up on the computer screen.
Get an even better look by clicking on the image.