The Annual BBBBB

                               
                                     

Tiny Surprise

I did not realize I was photographing a spider until I got my macro lens focused on this wild phlox blossom!

"The Annual BBBB" is a weekend of fun, food and photography for plant/nature lovers, sponsored by the Louisiana Native Plant Society and conducted by Dr. Charles Allen. "BBBBB" stands for "Bogs, Baygalls, Birds, Butterflies, etc." The fifth B might stand for "Bugs," as we saw plenty of those. However, just to be clear, an arachnid is not properly called a "bug." Anyway.....

We had great fun this year and Allen Acres B&B, near Cravens, La., is a wonderful place to stay in west central Louisiana! I'll have many more photos to share from this trip.

BTW, this was taken in the Kissatchie National Forest.

   

Photographer's Journal

                                 
                                     

Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco) on Lantana

Wow! I'm at one of my fave places--Allen Acres near Pitkin, La.,--and I almost didn't get to shoot today. Cleaning sensor of my camera before heading out this morning, I accidentally turned off one of the "custom functions" that must be turned on so that I can use my old, film camera lenses on my DSLR. Could not figure out what was wrong. Fortunately had internet; went on line to JustAnswers and got help from Mike. Had to pay for the info, but it was worth it. Thanks, Mike, wherever you are!!!!  Got the camera working and went out quickly in the fading light. Shot 40+ frames and this is one of the better ones.

This Duskywing has his head almost buried in one of the little florets that make up a Lantana bloom. I shot about five frames using my 70-210mm zoom. It is really hard to hold that lens still and get a sharp image when it is on full zoom, so I'm pretty happy with this.

   

BioBlitz: Critter

                              
                                     

Huckleberry Hideout

A critter shot from the BioBlitz at Charles Allen Biological Station near Columbia, La. And I didn't know I had a spider in this shot until I got it on my computer screen! Amazing how much his legs look like part of the blossom.
                    

Critters

                                      
                                          

Whadda you mean, you "see me"?

I'm sure this guy thought I couldn't because these critters don't usually hang around while you get up close and personal with an extension tube! Maybe he was posing so nicely hoping for a lucrative endorsement contract with an insurance company?

This is one of the numerous critters we saw at the ULM Biology Department's BioBlitz at the Charles Allen Biological Station last month.

Images of Australia: South Coast

                              

Falling Upward

                                       
Have you ever lost track of which way is down and which way up? I have, twice. Once deep diving in dark water and once standing on the Coast Walk, a path carved out of the side of a cliff on the south coast of Australia.