Wet Plants

Misty mornings offer an opportunity for interesting shots.

The first is a Gladiola leaf.
Second is a Hens & Chicks.
Last is a Sedum leaf.

Mating Mantis

Shortly after posting yesterday I found these two getting acquainted. Little did I know that that Monarch butterfly was her pre-coital meal.
This sequence took place over 3 hours, on and in a large Butterfly bush. Not an easy location to photograph.

Mantis V Monarch

This female Mantis has claimed a Butterfly Bush as her own.
This is at least the second Monarch she has captured. I found telltale wings a few days ago, yesterday I caught her in the act.
I wish she would eat nasty grasshoppers rather than these lovelies.
On a previous posting, I showed another Mantis on the pink Sedum flowers. There were a few Bee carcasses there.
They will eat almost anything.
This second pic shows how big she is getting, about 4 ½ inches long now.
Mating season is near.
















Today I added a link to the best Photography web site I know. PhotographyCorner. My images pale in comparison to most published there but I learned so much from the members that I feel compelled to spread the word. If you want to learn more about photography than you ever thought you could, visit, register and participate.

Todays Monarchs

It's a sunny Autumn day, warm and breezy. The Monarchs are fluttering around in a feeding frenzy, bulking up for the long flight south.


Monarchs feed with their wings closed. I had all but given up on getting an open wing shot, today I lucked out.


They are pretty with the wings closed but I wanted them both ways.
I'm greedy that way.

PhotoShows

I am pleased to say that I figured out how to create a link.
You may now see my PhotoShows.

Little 3 to 5 minute shows with music and motion. See the link on the right.

Do you like Praying Mantis? There are 7 in the yard this season, lots of pics.

Gladiolas

Time to show some flowers, although I suspect the bugs will get more interest

When the light is right, the colors glow.

















This was the very last one at the tip of the stalk.


















This stalk was heavy and tilted almost horizontal.















Tell me which you would prefer, bugs or buds. I have plenty of each.
See you tomorrow.

Shadow Darner

This is a large Dragonfly.

I love bugs, especially now that I can take close-up shots and really see them.

Pretty thing, isn't it.

They eat tons of mosquitoes.

My First

Hi All, I'm new here.
This is my first venture into blogging.
I have been shooting pics with a digital camera for all of 15 months, close-ups and macros interest me the most.
Insects are fast becoming my favorite subjects with flowers a close second.

When I saw this bumble bee on the Sedum flowers I knew I had to get the camera.
It's my favorite pic of the month.

Lets see how this works before I post more.

Any and all comments are welcome.

Thanks for looking




Here's the other end.