Mayfly

Oh ... its been much longer then i like since i've posted here. One of the points of this blog is to use it to push my efforts/creativity in the photographic arena. To do that it is essential i post with regularity ... now!

Photographed last week, i believe this is a May Fly although after looking at the images on line i'm not so sure. If you know what this insect is, please let me know:

Mayfly

Mayfly Skeleton

As far as i could tell, it had just emerged from its exoskeleton which was only a few inches away. When i first took a photo its wings were tight against its body and as i continued to shoot, they slowly opened and the Mayfly began to move around.

This was one of the first images and it wasn't moving at this time. The top images shows it has already begun to walk around and its wings were opening upwards.

Japanese Chestnut

 

These are two photos of the Japanese Chestnut in our backyard now in full bloom.

The top image is from the upstairs window and the bottom image is from the back door. I like the clouds in the lower photograph but prefer the tree in the top photograph.

Yesterday's full moon (June '17) is the Strawberry Moon as its said this is the best time to pick strawberries. Here are two different photographs, one with the moon slightly obscuring the top portion of moon and the other also has some clouds in front of the moon which are the dark coloration on the bottom left and center.

Personally, i'm not able to tell the different between the many full moons i have photographed over the years. The full moon eclipse that occurred some years ago over the Pacific Ocean in the middle of the night has some color in the moon as it entered and left the earth's shadow ... otherwise, they all look pretty much the same to me. [and, of course, the moon doesn't really change much].

A lil' fish snack

Pt Aransas Nature Reserve

Am taking a break from emptying the house and am now in Port Aransas, north of Padre Island in south east Texas on the coast. Am giving my new lens a tryout. Mentioned in an earlier post, this is the first time i've given it a try on birds which is the major reason i purchased it. A Tamron 150-600mm lens (with lotsa other letters i don't remember). For the price, it is an outstanding lens as one of such size from Canon, which my camera is, or Nikon, etc., would be many thousands of dollars. The secret is to find the sweet or sharp spot at each of the different extensions. Full out, 600mm, it will be a bit soft but for certain photos that won't really matter. Below are some of the first bird shots with the Tamron:

Tricolored Heron

 American Coot

Common Moorhen

And to add spice to the photos ... an alligator, the locals call him Pepe, swam into view just as we were getting ready to leave. We were up in the lookout, about 30 feet above ground and he could easily be seen. The second photo shows his right rear leg lifted as though he were walking on the bottom as it could have only been inches deep where he was. He was really large.

If you double-click on the photo, it'll grow to full screen.

Memphis Park Gate

Memphis Dog Park

Been in TX a week emptying out my parents house and helping my brother to move his stuff next door, the house which he's in the process of purchasing.

So, i've not done much photography since arriving here - well, none come to think of it. Oh, this morning i liked the sun beams shinning on the clay masks at the house we are staying in ... but i've not processed them and don't know when i shall.

In the meantime, on the way to TX, we meet my sister and a cousin in Memphis and visited a dog park which i think was maybe 20-30 acres with three ponds. Was a Blue Huron land at one of the ponds and tracked it down and shot the photo below. The interesting thing is i didn't know about the creatures in the final shot until i was processing them and cropping for a better look at the GBH ... and then i say them:

Waaay over there—

And then i was them:

Yup, sitting in the sun, having a sunny time.

Remember the film BlowUp? Always remember to take a closer look at the items in your image after you process, might be surprised at what you find.

Ahh, mushrooms

A few more mushrooms from a few years ago.

 These mushrooms grew from the ground cover the park crew put on the ground where they had redwood trees planted and other new items. For two years hundreds of different mushrooms grow up in that ground cover. The orange mushrooms at the top start out as round grey balls that you can see on the left which then break open and the orange ribs grow. The two images above are equally amazing. They start out as umbrella style mushrooms which degenerate into the slimy stalks you see in the last image.

The stench was almost overpowering and the park crew sprayed herbicides on the ground cover so the muchrooms would not grow the third year. Despite the stench, i loved seeing them grow in their many different forms.