Posts Tagged ‘damselflies’

The thought of bugs often causes an expression of dislike on the face of the person hearing about them. Many think “exterminator” immediately and in some cases, that might be necessary. This part of the Southwestern United States is home to scorpions and other nasty critters that need exterminating. But many bugs are beneficial, even beautiful, so when Donna asked what was bugging me, I took a look into the archives to look for this, that, and the other bug. I admit that I draw the line at eating bugs, despite reading about how tasty they can be!

Although our son-in-law is terrified of bees, I always love seeing them, especially as their numbers are on the decline. Bees are necessary for much of life on the earth, not just for honey, and there are many kinds of them, over 20,000 species! Outside the living room of our rental house in Naperville, Illinois, a beautiful butterfly bush grew yearly, attracting not only butterflies but other insects, including bees.

“The keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams.” ― Henry David Thoreau

I’ve found insects to show up unexpectedly in photos when, for instance, I thought I was shooting just a flower or other plant. This fellow merited the starring role.

Dragonflies remind me of alien versions of helicopters or bi-planes. They move so quickly that it can be hard to get a good shot of one!

“Magic is seeing the wonder in nature’s every little thing, seeing how wonderful the fireflies are and how magical are the dragonflies.” — Ama H.Vanniarachchy

Butterflies, or flutter-bys as we like to call them sometimes, are always a joy. Evidently I wasn’t the only one who thought this one looked quite tasty!

“Butterflies are self propelled flowers.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

On a visit to the South Bay Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, California, we thought this was a piece of art. as it didn’t move as I advance on it with my phone on our first visit and it was in the same place on our next trip. We looked at each other and laughed incredulously as it suddenly flew away!

“Danced and buzzed in the golden autumn light… the air was full of… glinting dragonflies shot …with gauzy wings and gleaming bodies.” — Arthur Conan Doyle

Wandering a back trail at the Riparian Preserve here in Gilbert several years ago, I found a datura plant that thoroughly entranced several bees. They danced until they were covered with pollen and I laughed out loud from the sheer beauty and joy of it.

“Where there are bees there are flowers, and wherever there are flowers there is new life and hope.”
― Christy Lefteri, The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Insects can live in all sorts of places but I love the insect houses I’ve seen, including this one at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden.

While sitting on the deck of the Wyoming cabin, this butterfly landed on my leg. Let me tell you, trying to take a photo without scaring it away was not easy. Things only got harder when it landed on my hand. Try taking a phone photo with just one hand! It ain’t easy!!

A squadron of these damselflies flew tantalizingly within reach of my camera’s lens but often they moved too quickly for me to capture, so I was thrilled to catch five of them in one shot!!

Sex in the park and not only did I not avert my eyes, I took a photo. Does that make me a bug voyeur?

I can never see enough butterflies. The park in Illinois had lots of milkweed, delighting me with sightings of monarchs sometimes. I can only imagine what it must be like to see them swarming but makes me sad to think how their numbers have fallen. I let milkweed grow in our yard to do my part, although it’s rather invasive.

All good things must come to an end and so it is with insects and all other life. I wonder how death came in this position and how the “skeleton” managed to still cling in death.

Donna, thanks for letting me wander through nature to find photos for this challenge. What fun!

Are you a minimalist or a maximalist when it comes to photography? Do you crave space or enjoy having lots to contemplate? There’s no right or wrong; each brings its own beauty. Bokeh has a lot to do with minimalism in my mind so let’s start with a photo filled with bokeh or basically filled with space: a damselfly over a Wyoming lake.

Looking up from bed one morning at the ceiling fan that’s a life saver in the heat and humidity of Illinois (or the dry, very hot heat of Arizona), I decided it would make a good photo.

There’s more filling this photo but it’s basically still one tomato with a stem.

Does minimal means fewer objects (there’s only a background and the face here) or is it the busy-ness of a shot? This photo gives you the chance to decide.

This final shot from Tlaquepaque, Sedona’s village-like shopping area, has a lot to see but is less busy than the previous photo, also from Tlaquepaque. Which one seems to better fit the term “maximal” and why?

Thanks, Sofia, for a challenge with maximum fun!

Wherever the neighborhood where we currently live, my neighborhood of heart is here in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. I was fortunate enough to visit for three weeks this summer.

The neighborhood.

Some of the neighbors.

for Lens-Artists Challenge #123 – Found in the Neighborhood