Close-up
Hanging Tapestry
An owl eye butterfly rests on a branch, displaying the intricate patterns and eye-like spots on its wings. To me, is a beautiful artwork of pattern and color – like a detailed tapestry. This is one of the many varieties of butterflies cultivated and displayed at the Butterfly Palace in Branson, Missouri.
You can get a better, more detailed look at this creature by clicking on the photo. (The pattern in the eyes is pretty of cool!)
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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Keen Green
This was one of my favorite butterflies found at the Butterfly Palace in Branson, Missouri. Whenever I’m in Branson, I try to make it to the Butterfly Palace and gather a few out-of-the-ordinary images. I’ve never seen or photographed this species.
According to Wikipedia, the Philaethria dido, the scarce bamboo page or dido longwing, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Central America and tropical South America, both east and west of the Andes, from Brazil and Ecuador northwards to Mexico.
Get a closer look by clicking on the photo. The eyes are always cool and the antennae are particularly long.
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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Turtle Happy
This big fella seemed content to be lounging in a ravine, caked in mud, balanced on a log, basking in the sunshine of an early spring morning. This photo was taken in the woods of northeast Wisconsin.
As we began a hike along the Ahnapee State Trail another couple ending their hike told us to watch for a large turtle in the ditch. We walked quite a while and didn’t see anything. We thought we’d missed it or it had moved on. Well, as you can see, we eventually spotted it.
To get up-close and personal, I had to tromp through some muck. It didn’t seem to mind my presence and sat for quite a few shots. Eventually it slid off the log and moved to the shade and mud under the log.
I don’t know what kind of turtle (or tortoise) this is but I can tell you he was large and looked ancient. Judging by the slight smile on his face, I think he was happy to see me.
To see more of the detail in those mesmerizing eyes, the wrinkles and claws, click on the photo. When you do, a full-screen version will appear 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Considering His Options
This Brittany puppy (only a couple of months old) looks directly into the camera with a thoughtful expression. You have to wonder, what he’s thinking?
This cute rascal belongs to my wife’s parents; longtime fans of the Brittany breed. We had the good fortune to be visiting when they brought him home. They named him Tucker.
You can view more of the detail in this closeup image by clicking on the photo. When you do, a full-screen version of this image will appear 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Mona Lisa Smile
On a recent trip to the Columbus Zoo, in Ohio, I snapped this image of a flamingo. I titled it, “Mona Lisa Smile,” because the bird seemed to have a look in the eye and crook in the smile that reminded me of a much more famous work or art.
This is an American Flamingo. These birds were found in southern Florida by early European explorers but their populations declined until they were gone by the early 1900s. However, in the 1950s they were added as a decorative addition to the Hialeah Park race track in Hialeah, Florida. The current wild populations of flamingos in southern Florida are believed to be the result of escapees from the race track.
The elements of this photo that I like most are, of course, the vibrant color, the detail in the plumage and the unusual shape and symmetry of the bird and its plumage.
To better view the detail 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.
Floral Fuzz
This is a wildflower that I found sprouting among the weeds that grow on the edges of our rural Wisconsin yard. The fuzziness of the edges caught my eye.
I don’t know what kind of flower this is, but I think it is an early version of the type you can see in aother post I titled Sun and Stars.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Three’s a Crowd
A couple of bees were working on this Sunflower when an ant decided to enter the picture. This is a flower in my wife’s flower bed. Not a flower she planted. One that was added by the birds dropping seeds from the feeders.
To see it larger, click on the image and it will open up in a new browser tab.
Monarch of the Meadow
This monarch butterfly, sitting on the head of a cone flower, was stretching its wings in the early morning sun. I like the way the petals from the flower look like trailing streamers.
I was delighted to capture this image because butterflies have been a real challenge for me. Of all my attempts – chasing the fidgety creatures around with my camera – I’ve only been able to catch a couple of images I’ve been happy with. I just happened to catch this one early in the morning, not fully awake. I even had to nudge it to get it to open its wings.
To see a larger version of this image, click on the photo.