In general, I have a sort of a “fair-chase” ethos about my photography. No posed subjects, no half-frozen insects (a...
Sometimes, I Cheat
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Outdoor Notes
Enjoy some of my most recent notes or search to find something in the archives.
The Pennant Hunt
We have seriously entered dragonfly season north of the ridge, and the last two days have produced two of my...
Orchard Orbweavers
The body of knowledge, in my humble opinion, is morbidly obese. That said, I think I may have found something to add....
On Triumphant Wing
I have been watching a small local colony of butterflies for the last five years. In 2007 and 2008, they thrived, but...
Missing the Yellow Warbler
For me, the most compelling creature to attempt to photograph is a wood warbler. The Americas are blessed with these...
Widow Skimmers
I started seeing my first Widow Skimmers about ten days ago, in the last week of May. They are one of the most common...
Ebony Jewelwings (the Fat Guy Gets the Girl)
Some critters are very aptly named. Others, well, it can get a little confusing. Case in point, the Ebony Jewelwing....
Aurora Damsels
There are several species of damselfly that live in and around our local wet areas. They can be extremely difficult to...
Return of the Orioles
It has been an odd spring. An early warm spell in late March led to early blooming wildflowers and early emerging...
Stinging Commentary: 1
Late summer and early autumn seem to bring out the stinging insects. Having posted a note on yellowjackets, I thought...
Two for the Team
I was testing out some new photo gear the other day, and I needed a reliable spot to shoot macro of moving subjects....
Fungus in the Tuscarora
As summer begins to wind down, and summer thunderstorms periodically soak the mountains, we usually get a fruiting of...
Shooting the Sphinx, finis
So, I have promised some notes on photographing night-flying sphinx moths in flight. First, they are very active at...
Shooting the Sphinx, 3
I had intended this Note to be about photographing Sphinx moths at night. It was to be the last in the series....
Shooting the Sphinx: 2
This is the second part of a multi-part Note on Sphinx moths. This part deals primarily with caterpillars. Unlike the...
Shooting the Sphinx
If you visit the Great Sphinx of Ghiza, you will be told by the ubiquitous tour guides that the sphinx’s nose was shot...
Orange-something Spiny Oakworm
This is a common moth that is better known as a caterpillar. It is variably referred to as the Orange-striped Spiny...
Frozen Hummingbirds
This is the time of year that Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) blooms. For those purists (like me) who prefer to...
Dragons amidst a Peaceful People
The Amish community holds an annual auction to pay for their schools. It is a great affair: homemade ice cream,...