Another of nature’s amazing flying machines are the hummingbirds. This female, ruby-throated hummingbird was photographed in our flower garden this summer. CLICK ON A THUMBNAIL TO SEE THE LARGER IMAGE.
Summer is a great time for butterflies . . .
If you have a flower garden or walk by one in the summertime, then chances are that you’ve seen butterflies “working” the flowers. These little flying creatures are great for the environment and lots of fun to watch. Here are a few pictures of yellow swallowtail butterflies enjoying some of the flowers in our flower garden. CLICK ON A THUMBNAIL TO SEE THE LARGER IMAGE.
April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse
Here are a few images of the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. These images were captured from Northern Virginia, so we did not get a full 100% coverage of the sun. There were some clouds during the eclipse, so a few of the images have some clouds showing - - but all in all, these images are pretty cool and you can even see the sun spots on the surface of the sun!!! Enjoy!!
Fall Colors - Oct 2023
Everyone knows that Fall colors show up in the October/November timeframe. Well here are just a few images of the Fall colors peaking out for your enjoyment!!
Black and white anyone?
Sometimes you just want to walk around and capture black and white images of nature. The textures and patterns in the images makes them a real treat!!!
Ever get bored?
Well, I often do get bored… So, of course, I dream up new stuff to do with photography. Here is an image that shows some of the “marble art” that resulted… Some marbles, some careful lighting, and some light painting and there you go!!!
Aruba VISIT 2023
We visit Aruba each year when we can. Here are some images near the resort area where we stay. White sand, blue water... a true paradise!!
Aruba visit 2023
We visit Aruba each year when we can. Here are some images highlighting some of the beautiful landscapes on the island. . .
Pelicans are fun to watch . . .
We visit Aruba each year, when we can. Earlier this year, I spent some time on the coast watching the pelicans. always fun. It is especially fun to watch them dive for food. Here are a few images of the pelicans.
Foxes, foxes, and more foxes . . .
Every year, we have a number of new foxes join ups in our “backyard.” Here are a few images of one of this years new arrivals . . .
Some more of nature's little flying machines from Summer 2023 . . .
Pileated Woodpeckers - amazing to watch!!
As with weather warms up a bit here all forms of wildlife were out and about. Here are some pictures of a male pileated woodpecker that I followed around for a while. This guy was working some tree stumps on the ground and a number of trees in the area. I'm always amazed to see them digging into the trees, wood chips flying, etc. Gotta love nature!!
Snow and birds.. A great opportunity for photos!!!
Just like the fox pictures, the snow here in January 2022 provided a great opportunity to capture some of the backyard birds. The snow provides a light background that results in great contrast for backyard bird images. Enjoy!
Foxes love the snow !!
Here in January 2022, we have received a good bit of snow. I was fortunate to capture one of our local foxes enjoying the white stuff. Enjoy the images!!
Anyone not like to watch butterflies?
While the overall population of butterflies in the U.S. continues to dwindle due to a wide variety of reasons, it is always good when you get the opportunity to view these beautiful creatures. Here are a few pictures from this morning that show just how beautiful and amazing they are. Enjoy!!
Gotta love foxes...
If you’ve ever had a chance to observe a fox, then you know that they can be very interesting animals. From their well-honed hunting skills to their ability to be at home just about anyplace they are just fun to watch. Here are a few images of one of our local foxes making itself at home and catching a few zzzz’s ;-)
Dark Hollow Falls - Shenandoah National Park
Earlier this month, I had the chance to trek down to the Dark Hollow waterfall, right off of the Skyline Drive, in the Shenandoah National Park. I hadn’t been there for a few years, so I was really looking forward to this visit. While there was not as much water flowing as the last tie I was there, Dark Hollow Falls is still a majestic sight and well worth the hike down (and back up) the hill. Being able to visit these places and having the opportunity to photograph moving water is one of the things that I truly enjoy. Here are a few images from the day.
Nature is just fun!!
As some of you know, I started in photography because of my interest in nature… And my interest in nature hasn’t changed ;-) Here are a collection of some images from this year (so far) that explain why nature is so compelling ;-) Enjoy!!
Cicada - Close up
Well, as I posted before, the Periodical Cicadas are here in Northern Virginia. And in a continuing effort to make sure that we fully enjoy them and capture images, here is a "close-up portrait" of one from this morning ;-) These insects have two compound eyes and three simple eyes (ocelli). The compound eyes are made up of approximately 7500 ommatidia - each with its own corneal lens and a core that takes the light into the eye. No matter how you feel about bugs, you have to appreciate the uniqueness of these cicadas that only show up every 17 years ;-}
Little Red Eyes... Everywhere ;-)
Well, it’s been 17 years since the periodical cicadas have made an appearance here in the VA, MD, and PA area. But the 2021, Brood X cicada emergence has started. These little guys spend 17 years underground slowly developing.. Then, when the ground temperature reaches 64-65 degrees F, they start their journey up. Once them emerge, the nymphs molt into adult cicadas. And the adults make lots of noise, mate, lay eggs, and then they die. And you should know that the adults don’t bite, sting, or really do anything objectionable. So, if you’re in an area where they are emerging, sit back and enjoy the show ;-) The images here are from 10May2021 and are some of the early cicadas emerging for 2021. The images are a mixture of adults, cicadas shedding their “nymph skins” and cicadas out of the nymph skin waiting for their skin to harden and their wings to become functional. Once all this is done, they fly off to a nearby tree to begin their mating ritual.
