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
Sony A7III
Amazing Technicolor Web
A detailed spider web glistens in the sunlight. The delicate strands of web, highlighted by the sun, reveal a stunningly beautiful, technicolor design.
On a recent hike through the woods at Weston State Park in northwest Missouri, I spotted this spider web, highlighted by a beam of light. To fully grasp the impact of this image, you must click on it to view the larger version on a big screen. (Or zoom in a lot.) The yellowish-green spider is
I did not adjust the color or saturation for this web. I merely reduced the highlights, pulled up the shadows and whites a bit and toned down the luminance on the green leaves.
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.
Crape Myrtle in Bloom
This vibrant cluster of pink flowers with a few green buds is from a blooming Crape Myrtle Tree. I was captivated by these flowering trees on a recent trip to Alabama. It was easy to spot these bright red flowers as I drove from the panhandle of Florida to the southwest corner of Alabama. They seemed abundant along my route. When I finally got to my destination, one of the first questions I asked was, “What are those red, flowering trees?”
I took a few photos and did a little research when I got back home in northwest Missouri. Crape Myrtles have been lovingly referred to as the Lilac of the South (even though they have no fragrance). They have a very long bloom time in the summer. I think the little yellow flowers that bloom out of the green orbs is pretty unique too.
Crape myrtles have an interesting exfoliating bark from late spring to early summer that, as it peels, reveals a beautiful, velvety, cinnamon colored trunk. (Click on the photo to the right and get a good look.) I’ve learned the leaves also provide some fall color – from yellow to orange to red – if the weather cooperates.
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.
To view these photos in a larger, more detailed size, click on the image.
Loving the Light
The Kewaunee, Wisconsin lighthouse and pier is dwarfed by the big, beautiful, dramatic sky at sunrise. The calm water reflects the colorful twilight hues of the clouds.
I just happened to be in Kewaunee last weekend and made it a point to get up way before I needed to for church to capture some sunrise views from the beach. This was actually snapped about 20 minutes before sunrise. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate this sunrise as a 7 or 8. It was good enough to provide a number of good images…which I will be working on in the coming weeks.
This is a panorama of two combined shots. You can get a better, larger view 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Belly of the Beast
This is an F-35 fighter jet on a slow fly by at the EAA’s AirVenture air show. For this particular pass, the internal weapon bays are open for the eager onlookers.
According to Wikipedia, the F-35 is a single-seat, single-engine, stealth multirole combat aircraft designed for air superiority and strike missions; it also has electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
The annual AirVenture aviation extravaganza is a favorite photo opportunity of mine. This photo is from the 2023 event. I took a lot of photos and, for some reason, I just didn’t come away with many that I liked. Even this one is not as sharp as I would like. I guess some days are like that.
You can view a much lager version of this image 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Tall Drink
A picturesque waterfall cascades down a rocky cliffside into a tranquil pool below, surrounded by lush greenery and moss-covered rocks. This is South Falls – a 177-foot (54 m) drop – at Silver Falls State Park near Portland, Oregon.
You can see this same fall from a different angle on my earlier post, South Falls at Silver Falls State Park.
You can view this image in a larger, more detailed version by clicking the photo. When you do, it will open up in a new browser window.
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.
Reflecting In Alabama
The tranquil Burnt Corn Creek meanders through Jennings Park in Brewton, Alabama, reflecting the surrounding greenery in the calm waters of this panoramic image.
I recently spent a weekend in Brewton Alabama. This creek runs along the border of Jennings Park – a beautiful attraction the locals can be proud of. It has paved trails, a long, raised boardwalk through a wooded area, an abundance of wild and cultivated flowers and this restful spot along the creek.
This panoramic image was produced by stitching five separate photos together to capture a wider perspective. To really enjoy the scene, I encourage you to click on the photo to view a much larger version.
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.
White Spider Lily
These interesting, exotic flowers were a new variety to me. They are known as white spider lilies. They are part of the amaryllis family. (Amaryllidaceae – genus Hymenocallis) The bright blooms are a beacon for their primary pollinator, Sphinx moths.
As I mentioned, this is a wildflower I’ve not encountered before. I found it growing in southwest Alabama – on a short visit last weekend. These were growing along a boardwalk trail at Jennings Park; a beautiful, well kept park in the small town of Brewton, AL.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
The Queen’s Sceptre
A close-up shot showcases the early stages of Queen Anne’s Lace, bathed in warm sunlight. Early morning dew clings to the delicate stems of the plant and a lone strand of spider web. The early light and tiny dewdrops highlight its structure and adding some sparkle.
You can get a better, more detailed 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Bluebird Babe on a Branch
This is a fledgling bluebird perched on a tree branch, bathed in the warm glow of early morning sunlight filtering through the leaves. At this age, the bluebird isn’t very blue, with muted brown and white plumage.
This is an image I captured in the yard of our rural Wisconsin home in the spring of 2023.
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.
Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
A vibrant green tuliptree flower with a rich yellow center is in full bloom, surrounded by large, lobed leaves. Some sort of insect is nestled in the flower’s petals, possibly collecting nectar or pollen.
Also shown in this photo is one of the tuliptree’s cone-like seed clusters that sit upright on the branches. The tuliptree is one of the largest native trees in North America. It is a member of the magnolia family and has distinct tulip shaped flowers. The golden-yellow fall color of the tuliptree makes this an excellent choice for large landscapes.
I found this tuliptree in bloom while strolling the grounds at College of the Ozarks, just south of Branson, Missouri.
Getting this shot was not an easy task. The blooms are up in a tree, well above my head and reach. To get this image, I employed a monopod. I extended it the full length, set the camera’s timer and guessed at the focal distance. Then, after pressing the shutter button to activate the timer, I hoisted the camera above the bloom and waited for the “click” sound. Then I’d lower it to eye level and look at the result. It took about six or seven attempts to get the correct framing and sharpness.
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.