September 10, 2007
10. Dragonfly
Though we though bug season was over, we lucked out and found this guy not too long ago. This is the same dragonfly I posted here.
I really like this image. I think it is the background that I like the most.
Posted on September 10, 2007 10:34 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
September 4, 2007
04. Dragonfly
Posted on September 4, 2007 01:12 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 8, 2007
08. Skippers
Posted on August 8, 2007 02:41 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 7, 2007
07. Hairstreak
Posted on July 7, 2007 03:13 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 5, 2007
05. Dragonfly and Daisy
Posted on July 5, 2007 09:15 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
February 20, 2007
20. Skippers
Another Out of Bounds image. The photo is of two skippers I shot last year. I entered this into competition on Monday night and received a score of 14 out of a possible 15 for the photo. That is a Diamond award in the club.
Posted on February 20, 2007 09:01 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
January 31, 2007
31. Morning Mayfly
This photo of a mayfly was shot 18 months ago (July 31, 2005). I came across this photo while reviewing some of my older work which happened to be the subject of my latest tip.
You can read it here.
Posted on January 31, 2007 12:49 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
October 28, 2006
28. 12 Spot on Thistle
12 Spot on thistle. This is obviously not a new shot, but it was taken this summer.
Posted on October 28, 2006 11:59 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
October 11, 2006
11. Crab Spider
This is a different crab spider than the one I previously showed. They are both on the same flower, birdsfoot cingfoil though in a different location.
Posted on October 11, 2006 11:46 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
September 15, 2006
15. Crab Spider
Posted on September 15, 2006 12:24 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 27, 2006
27. Cabbage White on Clover
Posted on August 27, 2006 06:08 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 20, 2006
20. Eastern Tailed Blue
This is another Eastern Tailed Blue. These are very small butterflies, maybe the size of my thumbnail. They move their wings up and down a little and while they do, the tails resemble antenna so that if a predator takes a bite, the only get the wing, not the head.
Posted on August 20, 2006 11:39 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink
August 19, 2006
19. Jiminy
Well, he is really a grasshopper, not a cricket. But I don't know any grasshopper names.
Posted on August 19, 2006 07:06 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 18, 2006
18. Blues
A pair of Eastern Tailed Blues mating.
Posted on August 18, 2006 08:37 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 17, 2006
17. Mating Blues
Posted on August 17, 2006 08:57 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 6, 2006
06. Black Swallowtail
Found this guy in my garden after a rain storm the other night. Looked like he was feasting on my parsley. I believe it is (or will be) a black swallowtail butterfly. After taking some photos of him, I let him go.
Posted on August 6, 2006 06:00 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
August 4, 2006
04. Black and White Butterfly
Shot at the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory
Posted on August 4, 2006 06:32 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 3, 2006
03. Bee
Posted on August 3, 2006 11:56 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 1, 2006
01. Beetle on Butter and Eggs
This spotted ladybug was not my intended focal point for this photo, but once I got closer to the flowers, decided she should be in there.
Posted on August 1, 2006 08:30 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
July 22, 2006
22. Wings
Posted on July 22, 2006 09:19 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 21, 2006
21. Saddleback
I shot this saddleback last weekend. Like the Monarch, it was done later in the morning. Unlike the Monarch however, it flew to me, I did not have to chase this one.
I processed this image in the new Adobe Lightroom beta. The software looks nice, but I will need to do some more testing with it to see how the image quality is. It is a little slow though. Beta sofware...
Posted on July 21, 2006 01:38 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 17, 2006
17. Crab Spider and Fly
This shot of a crab spider and fly was taken a few weeks ago. I originally set up to shoot the bird-footed cingfoil (trefoil?) and after my first shot notice a blur in the photo. Zooming in to identify the blur I noticed the crab spider. I photographed the pair for a little while after that.
Posted on July 17, 2006 12:00 PM | Comments (3) | Permalink
July 15, 2006
15. Monarch
Monarch Butterfly. Stalked.
Our usual method of shooting these insects involves finding them in the morning when they are still fairly dormant from the overnight cold. This monarch was shot a little later in the morning and I had to stalk it, moving slowly. It was quite co-operative though and allowed me to get closer than I needed to be.
Posted on July 15, 2006 11:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 14, 2006
14. Orange Veins
This is a close up of a 12 Spotter Skimmer dragonfly. Scott originally pointed out the orange colour in the larger veins in the wings.
I am still fairly new at photographing these insects so I rely a lot on John and Scott for names and searching the Internet when I can. I identified this based on what I found at http://www.dragonflies.org
Posted on July 14, 2006 11:42 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 13, 2006
13. Skippers
Two skippers covered in morning dew.
Posted on July 13, 2006 09:20 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 3, 2006
03. On top of a Flower
Dragonfly perched atop a purple flowering grass.
Posted on July 3, 2006 11:32 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 2, 2006
02. Resting
This Cabbage White is resting calmly on clover, basking before flying for the first time in the morning.
Posted on July 2, 2006 09:13 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink
July 1, 2006
01. Smiling for the Camera
This dragonfly seems to be smiling for the camera.
Posted on July 1, 2006 11:32 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
June 26, 2006
26. Not Your Ordinary Portrait
Ha ha, this is definately not your normal portrait! This is the same dragonfly that I posted yesterday, only this time I shot the front of him. I definately like yesterday's shot of his back better than this one though.
Posted on June 26, 2006 11:50 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink
June 25, 2006
25. Wings
Posted on June 25, 2006 10:06 PM | Comments (5) | Permalink
February 15, 2006
15. Moth
A large moth shot at the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory.
Posted on February 15, 2006 11:09 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
September 15, 2005
15. Sulphur
I started my class last night. I am not sure why I had the impression, but I didn't expect it to be so much like school used to be. But, it is class just as I remember them being (it's only been 5 years).
Tonight I am heading out with Dave to do some shooting. It'll be the last digital shooting I do for a while as I have to take the camera in for repairs tomorrow. Canon has told me it could be up to 6 weeks, even though this is a known issue. I am very unhappy about that. So, I'll be going back to film.
Posted on September 15, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
September 14, 2005
14. A Rainbow of Colours
This is another shot of the Sulphar I posted on Monday. I find it amazing just how much colour is really in these butterflies. When I first looked at it, it was a pale yellow, almost brown, but this image shows its true colours, yellows, greens, reds, blues plus some purple and brown.
Tonight I start a 12 week portraiture course. I have to say that it is my weakest photographic technique and I have always thought people are the hardest subjects to shoot.
Posted on September 14, 2005 10:30 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
September 13, 2005
13. Eastern Tailed Blue
This Eastern Tailed Blue was in excellent shape. Often they have nicks out of their wings from attempts from being eaten. The small tails are actually a diversion. They will move them up and down to mimic their antennae so a predator may only nip the back of the wing, rather than a more critical near the head nip!
Posted on September 13, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
September 12, 2005
12. Early Morning Sulpur
As I mentioned yesterday, the season is about over for the insects. This is one of two butterflies I shot yesterday. We were at the Wainfleet Bog on Erie Peat Road in Port Colborne where we have had some pretty good luck over the past few weeks. I have a couple different shots of this butterfly and one more of an Eastern Tailed Blue to post.
Posted on September 12, 2005 02:52 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
September 7, 2005
07. Dewy 12 Spot
Posted on September 7, 2005 06:46 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
September 6, 2005
06. Meadowhawk
This is one of the meadowhawk dragonflies I mentioned last week. As this is the first year I have started shooting insects, it was an exciting find. The first dragonfly I posted back in July I did not actually find, but as my eyes are becoming tuned to what to look for, these creatures that camouflage themselves so well now are appearing to me.
Posted on September 6, 2005 09:45 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
September 5, 2005
05. Eastern Tailed Blue
The Eastern Tailed Blue is only about the size of a nickel, so they are quite hard to find in the grasses.
Posted on September 5, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
September 4, 2005
04. Sulphur
This was shot later in the day. I had to hunt this one down, and then slowly move up on it to keep it from flying away.
Posted on September 4, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
September 3, 2005
03. Pearly Crescentspot #2
This is the same butterfly as yesterday, only with it's wings closed.
Posted on September 3, 2005 08:47 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
September 2, 2005
02. Pearly Crescentspot
A Pearly Crescentspot warming itself before it's first flight of the day.
I was out this morning, and while I didn't shoot any butterflies, I did get some shots of a couple of dragonflies, a green darner, meadowhawk and a saddlebag. I will have photos next week.
Posted on September 2, 2005 10:08 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 24, 2005
24. Golden Cabbage White
This Cabbage White appears to be seemingly made of gold. This little guy is seemingly enjoying basking in the sun, judging by the size of his smile!
Tonight is the Picture The Cure Exhibition and Auction for Breast Cancer and the Princess Margaret Hospital. The event is being held at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. I cannot be there tonight because of some work commitments, but I would have liked to have gone. My best to the photographers who are supporting this worth cause.
Posted on August 24, 2005 09:51 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
August 18, 2005
18. Bee on Black Eyed Susan
This is a photo I shot last year (I have been busy the week or so and haven't been out with my camera) that has done very well in competitions. I received a Diamond award for it in competition at the Niagara Falls Camera Club and and honour awards at the Rainbow Competition; a yearly competition between the Niagara Falls Camera Club (Niagara Falls, Ont) and Twin Cities Camera Club (Tonawanda, NY). It also received an honourable mention at this year's Niagara Frontier Regional Camera Clubs Annual Convention.
Remarkably, for this magnification, I was able to shoot this hand held.
Posted on August 18, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
August 16, 2005
16. Stained Glass?
Butterfly Wings... like stained glass.
NOTE: The service I have been using to send out daily email updates had a problem over the past few days. It looks like the problem was resolved this morning, but I have already written most of the code to send out the emails myself. I hope to have it working in a few days. I look forward to any feedback on the change when it happens.
Posted on August 16, 2005 09:34 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
August 12, 2005
12. Green butterfly
When Leanne and I were in Letchworth, there were butterflies everywhere. Overlooking the Mt. Morris dam is a field of wild flowers that was teeming with them, bright yellows and greens, red and orange, black and white. I was able to get this shot in (a sulphur maybe?) but would love to have an early morning there for some really nice ones, like this, or this.
Posted on August 12, 2005 06:38 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
August 6, 2005
06. Skipper
I am not as happy with this shot as I am with the Lacewing from Thursday. I would have like to have bounced a little more light back into the body to illuminate the from wing a little more.
Posted on August 6, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
August 5, 2005
05. Morning Mayfly
I am really happy with this shot. I went out Sunday morning though I had thought about cancelling after having had a very long day at work the day before. Conditions were perfect and John has a very keen eye for finding these small critters.
Posted on August 5, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
August 4, 2005
04. Skipperling
Posted on August 4, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
August 1, 2005
01. Waiting to Harden
This butterfly had recently emerged from it's chrysalis. They emerge and sit for about an hour while they wings inwrap and harden before flying off. In the background you can see other chrysalis' from the hatchery at the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory.
On another note, yesterday was the last day of my sixth month of posting. So far, 182 days, and 182 photos. It's been tough to keep up with at times, but I am still enjoying it so I will continue. I am putting together a selection of my favourite images from the past 6 months. I have 22 selected now, I want to whiddle it down a bit before I post the link.
Other photos from the Butterfly Conservatory:
July 30, 2005
July 31, 2005
UPDATE: I have come up with my favourite 15 images from last month.
Posted on August 1, 2005 05:12 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink
July 31, 2005
31. Butterfly
Another butterfly from yesterday's shoot. With so many butterflies at the Conservatory, it is a very great experiance to be there first thing in the morning, but really lacks a lot of the thrill of the hunt of going out and finding them on your own like this shot of a Saddleback Dragonfly, or this one of damselflies mating.
Posted on July 31, 2005 11:04 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 30, 2005
30. Butterfly
One of many butterflies shot this morning at the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory.
Posted on July 30, 2005 12:23 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 27, 2005
27. Time for a Snack
While Dave and I were in the Niagara Gorge the other day, these cabbage whites were very abundant. Dave was able to get some nice shots in and I was able to get this female resting on this plant having a snack.
Posted on July 27, 2005 06:47 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 20, 2005
20. Caterpillar
I found this caterpillar last week having a snack while out with Scott and John. While not as exciting as the damselflies or dragonflies we were looking for, I still thought it might make a nice shot.
Posted on July 20, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 12, 2005
12. Mating
This pair of Damselfies are in a mating position. National Geographic has published an article which discusses the mating of can be found here.
Posted on July 12, 2005 01:00 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 11, 2005
11. Hiding
This was shot yesterday along with my first dragonfly. I am working on my technique. Each week is a little bit better.
Posted on July 11, 2005 11:25 AM | Comments (4) | Permalink
July 10, 2005
10. Saddleback
Saddleback Dragonfly. This was posted late...busy day for me.
Posted on July 10, 2005 11:40 PM | Permalink
July 4, 2005
04. Blue Damselfly
This was the only salvageable shot from yesterday. Manual focus and a diopter adjustment our of whack do not play well together. I am very disappointed as the sunbursts coming off of the water drops on both the grass and the damselfly are amazing.
Posted on July 4, 2005 10:49 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
May 29, 2005
29. Damselfly
I was out this morning with a couple of my friends bug hunting. This was my first trip out with them for this purpose though they are experienced at shooting them. The morning was pretty uneventful as this Damselfly was the only one that was found, and not by me. I really do not how they expect me to find an insect that blends in with it's environment, buried in grasses, when it is only 3/4 inch long!
We are out most Sunday's so I am sure I'll be posting more Damslefies and dragonflies, maybe some moths and butterflies as well. The detail has really been lost in the conversion to websize, but the full version is really quite remarkable.
Posted on May 29, 2005 08:55 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
May 15, 2005
15. Grossius Insectus
I believe that Grossius Insectus is the official name for this. If it is not, it should be. The insect was about 2 inches long in body and close to 5 from tip to tip of his feelers. I trapped him in a glass and tried to get a few shots of him. Hard to see in the smaller version of the image, but the individual ommatidium are visible in the compound eye.
In case anyone hasn't figured it out, I don't particulary like bugs. Another view of the insect can be found here.
Posted on May 15, 2005 06:00 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink