Bill Pevlor
Tree Hugger
I love macro photography because it brings things that are small, and often missed, closeup and in sharp focus. It reveals the detail that we rarely have the opportunity to observe and enjoy.
This small butterfly was one of several I found mingling around the base of a tree in the woods of Missouri. It seemed like a gathering of old friends. Unfortunately, I was’t able to get a good shot of the group’s activity because, at the base of the tree, there was a good deal of tall grass that shielded my view. This momentary loner was kind enough to sit still long enough for me to snap its image. An online friend helped me identify this as a Hackberry Emperor butterfly.
By the way, the image you see here was flipped 180-degrees. When I snapped it, the butterfly was facing downward. I thought it seemed more natural and a little easier on the eyes to have it positioned upward.
There is much more detail to be seen in the larger version. To see it, simply click on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Pure Algoma
The Algoma lighthouse and pier present a welcome sight to shore-side visitors and, more important, the watercraft entering and departing the small Lake Michigan harbor.
This image doesn’t contain the dramatic sunrise elements usually seen in my photos of the Algoma lighthouse. I was there at the break of dawn, hoping for a dramatic sunrise, but it never materialized. Still I like this photo for the clear, clean feel of the blue water and sky…with a hint of sunrise pink on the horizon.
You can get a larger view of this image by clicking on the photo. When you do, a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Colorful Kewaunee Fourth
A crowd of wide-eyed spectators watch the Fourth of July fireworks show from Selner Beach in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Along with the booming colors the crowd was serenaded by the gentle, rhythmic sound of Lake Michigan waves on the shore.
I enjoy photographing fireworks. I particularly enjoy capturing the fine detail. Unfortunately, you have to really zoom in to see the kind of detail I’m talking about. Fortunately, with the large megapixels of today’s cameras, you can see some amazing detail when you enlarge the image. You won’t be able to see that kind of detail in this image, but you can view a larger version to get a better, overall view by clicking on the photo. When you do, a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Beachside Spectacular
One of the best vantage points for the 4th of July fireworks display in Kewaunee, Wisconsin is a blanket or comfortable chair on the beach. Kewaunee is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
I’ve photographed the fireworks in Kewaunee many times, but I usually do so from a spot on the harbor. I like capturing the reflection of the firework’s colors on the water’s surface. (Check some of the previous Kewaunee fireworks posts on this site HERE) This year, I decided to try a different location, joining the spectators on the beach.
The fireworks are discharged from the pier that stretches out into the lake.
You can get a better, larger view of the festive scene by clicking on the photo.
Grass Hopper
This little rascal was very alert, keeping an eye on me while I kept my camera focused on him.
I photographed this wild bunny on a recent trip to Missouri. I was strolling around in the early morning and found out I wasn’t the only one up early. He looks steady here, but he only stood still for a moment before scurrying off to the woods.
You can view more of the detail and the twinkle in his eye by clicking on the photo. When you do, a larger version will open in a new browser tab.
Hello Wild Yellow
This yellow wildflower found a place in a woodland clearing to enjoy the warm, afternoon sun.
I usually try to offer some info on the flowers I post – at least the name of the flower. In this case, I don’t know what this one is called. I spent a good deal of time searching the web and a wildflower field guide but couldn’t come up with a good match. If you know, definitively, what this flower is, let me know. I photographed this bloom on a trail in northeast Wisconsin.
Update: With the help of some online friends I’ve discovered this flower is known locally as Goat’s Beard. Wikipedia also lists a variety of other names that are used for this plant…Tragopogon dubius, yellow salsify, western salsify, western goat’s-beard, wild oysterplant, yellow goat’s beard, common salsify and salsify.
You can get a larger, more detailed view of this flower by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Dark Damsel
The dainty damselfly is a predator by nature. Damselflies catch and eat flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects. Often they hover among grasses and low vegetation, picking prey off stems and leaves with their spiny legs.
I think the best part of this image is the detailed pattern and color in the wings. I also like the tiny spines on the legs.
This dark damsel paused just long enough for me to catch a good photo. They tend to zip to and fro and make focusing a challenge. I saw this one on a walk through some woods in Missouri. I had to shoot through the leaves to grab this image. I would have preferred the leaf in the foreground wasn’t there so you could see the structure of all the legs, but sometimes you have to take what you can get.
To enjoy the details available in this image, click on the photo and a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Sunrise and Splendor
A magnificent, pre-sunrise, panoramic display by the morning sky and clouds seems to envelop the Kewaunee lighthouse and pier. The warm reflection off Lake Michigan’s calm waters only accentuates the exhibition.
I’ve always believed, the best part of a sunrise is not the sun, but the clouds. The sun creates the light and color, but the clouds provide the character. Not heavy cloud cover, but the light, wispy kind that provide natural texture and interest to a scene. To me, a cloudless sunrise is pretty bland.
It seems I’ve been writing a lot about how I don’t often post panoramic images because their wide-view perspective doesn’t fit well within the typical web site parameters. Well, I must be on a bit of a panoramic kick these days, because I’ve posted more panoramas in the last few weeks than I have in as many years. I guess, when the mood and the beauty hits me, I can’t pass it up. It’s a little more work in processing, but I believe the results are well worth it.
Of course, when I post a panoramic image I must urge you to click on the photo so you can view a much larger version. There are a lot of birds in this photo, but you’ll miss most of them if you don’t view the larger version. Again, just click on the photo and a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Gold In the Marsh
These yellow wildflowers are known locally as Marsh Marigolds. They can be found in ditches, wet woodlands and marshes. We found these…and a whole bunch more…in some soggy areas in the woodlands of northeast Wisconsin.
As I mentioned, we call them marsh marigolds in this area. Their botanical name is caltha palustris but they are known by a unbelievable variety of other names around the world. According to Wikipedia, the second most common name is kingcup. After that, they are also called brave bassinets, crazy Beth, horse blob, May blob, mare blob, boots, water boots, meadow-bright, bullflower, meadow buttercup, water buttercup, soldier’s buttons, meadow cowslip, water cowslip, publican’s cloak, crowfoot, water dragon, drunkards, water goggles, meadow gowan, water gowan, yellow gowan, goldes, golds, goldings, gools, cow lily, marybuds, and publicans-and-sinners. The common name “marigold” refers to its use in medieval churches at Easter as a tribute to the Virgin Mary, as in “Mary gold”.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Out of the Blue
The deep red color of the Algoma lighthouse stands in sharp contrast to the deep blue of Lake Michigan and the early morning sky above.
I have taken a lot of photos of this lighthouse. On this trip, I was hoping for another nice sunrise. Unfortunately, the rising sun was concealed by a band of clouds on the horizon so a true sunrise photo wasn’t in the cards. I decided to catch a low angle view of the lighthouse across the Algoma harbor. To get this shot, I crawled down on the rocks near the mouth of the Ahnapee River, just off the marina parking lot, and held my camera just above the water.
I like this image for 1) the different perspective, 2) the reflection of the lighthouse, 3) the ripples in the water giving it depth and interest, and 4) the predominant blue color with contrasting red.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.