Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for July, 2015

Independence Day 2015

Posted in Birds, Nature, Patriotism, Photography, wildlife, tagged , , , , , on July 4, 2015| 4 Comments »

As an American, I feel a special affinity for the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), our national bird and one of our most visible national symbols. Eight months ago, I was privileged to witness the rescue of an injured bald eagle at my local marshland park and captured some of the best photos that I have ever taken.

This photo, which appeared originally on 4 November last year, seems particularly appropriate today, reminding that our liberty requires constant vigilance and that brave men and women across the globe are on duty today safeguarding that freedom.

If you would like to see additional photos or learn more of the eagle rescue, check out my earlier posting. That posting has been my most popular one ever, thanks in part to the fact that several media outlets used my photos in their on-line coverage and provided links to my blog. Unfortunately, this story ended tragically and the eagle’s injuries turned out to be so severe that this majestic bird was euthanized.

Bald Eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

Read Full Post »

Patriotic butterfly

Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, tagged , , , , , , on July 4, 2015| 3 Comments »

With patches of red, white, and blue, this Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) that I spotted earlier this week seems to be perfectly attired to celebrate Independence Day today here in the United States.

Happy Fourth of July!

Red Admiral

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

Read Full Post »

Finding beauty

Posted in Flowers, Gardening, Macro Photography, Photography, tagged , , , , , on July 3, 2015| 6 Comments »

Where do you find beauty in your daily life? I often feel a sense of awe and wonder when I simply contemplate the gorgeous flowers in the garden of my neighbors.

I think the white flowers are a variety of coneflowers and the purple sphere in the upper right corner is a globe thistle.

Coneflowers

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

Read Full Post »

Not a Monarch

Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged , , , , , , , on July 2, 2015| 8 Comments »

A few years ago I probably would have misidentified this butterfly as a Monarch because of its coloration. Now, however, I can tell immediately that it is a Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus), because there is a black stripe across the hindwings that the Monarch lacks.

I spotted this beautiful little butterfly this past Monday as I was searching for dragonflies and other creatures in a remote area of Huntley Meadows Park, the marshland area where I take many of my photos. A significant number of the areas that I like to visit are at least partially flooded. The month of June that we just ended turned was the second most rainy June on record for the region (and the rain has continued into July).

As I take more and more photos, I keep learning more and more about my subjects as I try to figure out what I have shot. What amazes me is that I manage to retain some of that information and can use it to identify a subject, as I did in this case. It’s not that easy most of the time (at least for me).

Viceroy butterfly

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

Read Full Post »

Almost too close

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged , , , , , , on July 1, 2015| 10 Comments »

I was concentrating so intently on tracking this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in flight on Monday that I didn’t realize he was so close to me that I actually should have zoomed out a bit—the heron barely fit within the viewfinder.

Fill the frame with your subject? I can’t remember the last time that I was able to do so with a bird as the subject.

Great Blue Heron

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts