The Relaxed Photo Thread

[lkalliance]

Have you ever gone to EweTube and typed in "bird feeder vs squirrel"? Some of those videos are a hoot, and there's some pretty clever squirrels out there, too.

Yeah, I've seen that! Yes, they're pretty clever. So far, I haven't had one beat my Brome feeders. When I worked at a wild bird store, I had a whole talk prepared for customers that came in looking for methods for dealing with squirrels. Very frustrating!

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Been splitting firewood over the past week or two. I'm getting old so I just nibble away at it. Yesterday I had a supervisor. Since he seemed willing to pose I went inside and grabbed a camera, the little Lumix. He continued to pose but stuck to the shade. This was my best shot with a bit of post image magic included for free.

 

[splifingate]

I've been working out in Missouri helping complete the landscape at Thunder Ridge Arena these past three weeks, and this was my first photogenic score.

Parasola plicatilis​

The Arena is grandiose, magnificent, and {somewhat} photogenic . . . but noting really struck my eyes until I spied these early-morning jewels

 

[splifingate]

Alaus oculatus​

Eastern click-beetle I found on my truck tire in South-Central Georgia last month.

 

[Chuckeee]

View attachment 2386601

Alaus oculatus​

Eastern click-beetle I found on my truck tire in South-Central Georgia last month.

I remember catching those as a kid. I would enjoy holding their body (softly) and watching their head “click” up & down as they tried to get loose. It looked like they were, enthusiastically, shaking their head, saying, “YES”.

 

[splifingate]

It looked like they were, enthusiastically, shaking their head, saying, “YES”.

I always read that maneuver as "NO"; but, I appreciate the feeling

 

[splifingate]

It seems that I have created a pupae Shrine:

Only in the Winter months do such pupal sleeping-bags attract my attention (I guess that's the inevitable intent), and I find myself helpless, in the covet.

My currentpast cocoon de-jour:

Antheraea polyphemus

He rested all this Winter in his webby-leafy sleeping bag (hooked to another empty sleeping bag I had collected, the previous Winter), and chose June 8, 2024 to face the World.

It was late-at-night (and I have two quats), so I assisted Him outdoors, to a cut-timber I had collected.

He was AWOL on Sunday morning.

Flown-free, Little Buddy.

 

[dandeco]

It seems that I have created a pupae Shrine:

View attachment 2387296

Only in the Winter months do such pupal sleeping-bags attract my attention (I guess that's the inevitable intent), and I find myself helpless, in the covet.

My currentpast cocoon de-jour:

Antheraea polyphemus

He rested all this Winter in his webby-leafy sleeping bag (hooked to another empty sleeping bag I had collected, the previous Winter), and chose June 8, 2024 to face the World.

View attachment 2387310

It was late-at-night (and I have two quats), so I assisted Him outdoors, to a cut-timber I had collected.

He was AWOL on Sunday morning.

Flown-free, Little Buddy.

I've seen a few Polyphemus moths before. They are HUGE. Giant silk moths are definitely more interesting than your typical small drab moth, with their larger size and brighter, bolder colors. But they're also pretty elusive, since they're nocturnal and generally stay in or near wooded areas. Only other kind I've seen in the wild is the Luna moth.

 

[splifingate]

I've seen a few Polyphemus moths before. They are HUGE. Giant silk moths are definitely more interesting than your typical small drab moth, with their larger size and brighter, bolder colors. But they're also pretty elusive, since they're nocturnal and generally stay in or near wooded areas. Only other kind I've seen in the wild is the Luna moth.

I waited this cocoon-out for about five months . . . every day this past month, I've watched it (for Signs, etc.).

[seriously: I inspected it multiple times, every day, since]

Was not able to directly witness His release . . . this is a Theme, and (if I may surmise) directly the intent in the Strategy (random-surreptitious-release was probably a game-changer for re-{peat}-phenology).

He was about 17cm wing-tip to wing-tip upon release (not fully fleshed-out, as they seem to really expand-into-their-own in the 24+ hours after ecdysis).

As a quat-lover (I usually have two, or three, in the house), I would not be the first to say that that Felidae and Lepidoptera are not snuggle partners

I (and He!) were just lucky, this time.

Phenomenal.

Makes me glad to be a mammal

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Was back at Lundbreck Falls yesterday. Liked this view of the bridge but the wide end of the 18-140 did not quite cut it. Did 3 panels making sure to keep camera level and plumb. However in this situation swing also entered into the equation and my first attempt at a stitch came out like this.

I tried some manipulation but was not happy so I went back to each image and made the bridge level regardless of the swing effect on the left and right panels.

Ended up with this after doing very minor perspective & color corrections to the final stitch. You can view it full size in the Panorama Thread.

 

[deep diver]

Was back at Lundbreck Falls yesterday. Liked this view of the bridge but the wide end of the 18-140 did not quite cut it. Did 3 panels making sure to keep camera level and plumb. However in this situation swing also entered into the equation and my first attempt at a stitch came out like this. View attachment 2387513

I tried some manipulation but was not happy so I went back to each image and made the bridge level regardless of the swing effect on the left and right panels.

Ended up with this after doing very minor perspective & color corrections to the final stitch. You can view it full size in the Panorama Thread.
View attachment 2387514

I like the first one better. The curve of the bridge looks like it could have been built that way. The scalloping of the edges of the image add an interesting secondary element.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

I like the first one better. The curve of the bridge looks like it could have been built that way. The scalloping of the edges of the image add an interesting secondary element.

Thanks for the input!
I am gradually putting together an exhibit of photos of the Falls. Maybe it's worth including?
BTW the straight one is a fairly accurate representation.

 

[Strider64]

When I get a shot like this fawn here that relaxes me more than anything it the world.

I think I've finally achieved cuteness overload with this fawn. I absolutely love how it looks directly into the camera.

 

[jwalker99us]

Macro pic of a leaf this morning after a hard rain fell last night.

 

[oldBCguy]

.. some May colours and raindrops .... views during morning local walkabouts.

 

[jwalker99us]

Nice flower pics. Especially the green backgrounds highlighting the flower. What are you shooting with?

 

[oldBCguy]

Nice flower pics. Especially the green backgrounds highlighting the flower. What are you shooting with?

Thanks .... my only camera at this time, all were taken with the camera on my iPad mini 6 .. hand-held, and zoomed in to setting '2'. The weather was 'perfect', no high contrast to deal with!!

 

[Chuckeee]

Back room at a local Tiki bar.

 

[bousozoku]

Back room at a local Tiki bar.

View attachment 2389453

Is it more interesting when you're drunk?

 

[splifingate]

Back room at a local Tiki bar.

View attachment 2389453

There is a LOT goin' on there!

Where are teh Hoomans?!?

 

[splifingate]

In my daily quest
To find the biggest clover:
Quadripartite bliss.

 

[bousozoku]

There is a LOT goin' on there!

Where are teh Hoomans?!?

They don't show up until Happy Hour.

 

[splifingate]

They don't show up until Happy Hour.

Ah!

Just like a lot of other places

 

[bousozoku]

Ah!

Just like a lot of other places

Hooray for Hoomanity!

 

[jwalker99us]

Thanks .... my only camera at this time, all were taken with the camera on my iPad mini 6 .. hand-held, and zoomed in to setting '2'. The weather was 'perfect', no high contrast to deal with!!

Now that’s interesting