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 Digital
Rocket’s Red Glare
I’m blessed to live in an area where local firework’s displays are launched near water. I always position myself close to the water so I can include the colorful reflections from the bright lights in the sky in my images. This is a perfect example.
The bright red from this fireworks burst creates a stunning reflection in the Kewaunee, WI harbor. This was part of their annual Trout Festival celebration.
Take a look at the larger version to see more detail in the reflection – just click the photo.
Rinse & Repeat
Our grandson, Sammy, actually likes bath time. At only eight months old, he doesn’t even mind the rinse cycle.
The hand model is grandma – my lovely wife, Sara.
To view a larger version of this image, click on it.
Serendipity
Looking back over the past several posts, I thought it was time for a bit of floral beauty. These cosmos brighten up the edge of our garden.
To view a larger version is this image, click on the photo.
Tiny Details
This male, ruby-throated hummingbird was just as intent on keeping an eye on me as I was in keeping an eye on him.
This was my first attempt at snapping a hummingbird photo this year. I didn’t think it went well, but…on second thought. I’ve had to change the way I snag these photos so I’ve not had time to perfect my method. I’ll be working on that.
To view a larger version of this photo – which I’d highly recommend on this one – click the image.
Blue Spectacular
A burst of red, white and blue filled the sky and reflected in the harbor at Kewaunee, Wisconsin during their 2013 Trout Festival.
Kewaunee always puts on a great fireworks display for their Trout Fest.
To view a larger version of this photo, click on the image.
Stalkers
This was a study in childlike curiosity. I was on an engagement photo shoot at Pamperin Park in Green Bay when we noticed a small commotion nearby.
A large egret had swooped in and perched on the railing of the small suspension bridge spanning Duck Creek. Nearby children saw the great white bird and got low to the ground, crawling toward the bird for a closer look. It was fun watching them plot among themselves and slowly inching their way toward their prey. They didn’t get much closer than this before the bird flew off.
To get a better look, click on the image and a larger version will open in a new browser tab.
House Sitting House Wren
I happened to catch this house wren sitting in the doorway of its home, but it wasn’t there long. I was constantly swooping in and out to bring insects to the babies inside.
In an earlier post, I showed this same wren with a beak full of spider to feed the babes. See it HERE.
This bird was photographed on a recent trip to northwest Missouri. We’ve not been able to attract an wrens to nest in a similar house we have in our yard in northeast Wisconsin.
To view a larger image of this bird, click on the photo.
Technicolor Throne
This skipper moth was overlooking the splendor of his kingdom from the comfort of his technicolor throne, a purple cone flower.
This is a photo taken on our recent vacation. This image came from a flowerbed just outside the gift shop of the Topeka Zoo. While the rest of our party went to look through the shop, I stayed outside to snap more photos.
To view a larger version of the king on his throne, click on the image.
Aging Patriot
Happy Independence Day!
This wounded warrior was sighted at the Topeka, Kansas zoo. They had two bald eagles on display who had been injured and no longer able to fly, so they were life-long residents.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Freshwater Gar
A little synchronized swimming demonstration by two Freshwater Gar (or Garpike) in a marine display at Cabella’s in Kansas City. OK, they weren’t actually performing, I just happened to catch two gliding by, side by side.
According to Wikipedia: Gar bodies are elongated, heavily armored with ganoid scales, and fronted by similarly elongated jaws filled with long, sharp teeth. Their tails are heterocercal, and the dorsal fins are close to the tail. As their vascularised swim bladders can function as lungs, most gars surface periodically to take a gulp of air, doing so more frequently in stagnant or warm water when the concentration of oxygen in the water is low. They also appear to surface in fast-moving rapids. As a result, they are extremely hardy and able to tolerate conditions that would kill most other fish.
This was a difficult image to capture. The scene wasn’t as bright as it looks here. In order to get this shot at f/6.7 I had to kick up the ISO to 3200 and the shutter speed down to 1/20tth of a second. Of course, handheld with no flash through. I don’t think I’ve ever shot at ISO 3200 before. (Even in low light conditions, I try to keep the ISO no higher than 800.) If you look closely, you’ll notice the image is not quite as sharp as I’d like and there’s a bit of digital noise…but not enough to discard the image.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.