Fly Silhouette On Palm Leaf

I saw this fly walking along a palm leaf and decided to try out some macro shots.  I wasn’t happy with any of the more traditional photos I took but liked this one, taken from the underside of the leaf.

Grasshopper

The grasshopper waited quietly in the tall grass and weeds while I watch and photographed it.  When I attempted to coax it into a “better” pose it decided I was no longer trustworthy and quickly disappeared into the foliage.

White Admiral and Berries

Walking through a vineyard near Scottsville, VA, I spotted this White Admiral butterfly perched near colorful berries.

Cicada Shell

Leaving for work, I noticed the sunlight gleaming through this abandon cicada shell hanging under a fence rail.  I came back a few days later, right around the same time, and got this photo of the backlit shell.  These empty shells disgust my wife but when I was a child we would play with them in the summer.  We had great fun pretending they were aliens, space ships and monsters.  Maybe because of that, they remind me of simpler times and summer fun.

 

Smiling Dragonfly

I spent some time one summer day watching and photographing the dragonflies that buzz around my backyard.  This individual almost seemed to pose for me.  In this shot it looks like the dragonfly is smiling for the camera.

Wildflower and Native Bee

A patch of wild daisies attracted this small, native bee.