Sunday, August 26, 2012

Dragonflies and an Itty Bitty surprise!

I love my sweet little garden friends. One of them didn't even mind when I attached the macro lens and got about 1/2" from his face. What a good sport!





This is the pink dragonfly I spoke about on my last post; a Roseate Skimmer. I hope to return to Hilltop Arboretum and get some better shots. 





My brother-in-law and his wife visited us this weekend. I'll describe our time together as...er...interesting. I may or may not post about it another time. But I will confess to having a video on my phone that is dying to see the light of day. This is Itty Bitty, their beloved cat, which might give you an idea of just how strange the weekend was. Oh, my!


Linking up with Your Sunday Best

Update 8/27/12: Looks like Isaac is headed our way, so I may be without power for a while after tomorrow night. Thanks for those that have emailed me or posted in their blogs that they're praying. It is truly appreciated!

48 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

now you know you're going to have to spill that story (or stories!) :)

LOVE the extreme close-up on the first dragon, and that pink is a whole 'nother round of wow. :)

Evelyn S. said...

First....absolutely amazing, fabulous, mind-blowing photos of the dragonflies!!! (Is an arboretum enclosed?) Second....I'll bet I can guess a little about the weekend-visit-involving-a-strange-cat! But I do want to read your version. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Wow - these shots belong in a magazine. They are superb! I've never seen a pink dragonfly - how lovely.

Anonymous said...

Itty Bitty does not look friendly.
The dragonfly shots are wonderful. Their faces always make me smile.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

The dragonfly photos are stunning, Gail. The cat photo is hysterical. You must post the video. :)

Phil Slade said...

The pink dragonfly shots are super Gail - didn't know pink ones existed. The angry cat I like. I guess your family brought a doggy pal along?

Rosemary Aubut said...

Wow Gail a pink dragonfly! I have never seen one! Absolutely beautiful captures! The cat is an interesting photo!

Stewart M said...

Those dragonfly pictures are really good - being able to get that close really helps!

I think that you cat may actually be some form of alien! Which does indicate that you had a strange weekend!

Stewart M - Australia

Kathy said...

Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. And finally, oh, my!

I don't believe I've ever known anyone to take a cat on a visit! Maybe this one would have rather stayed home.

Justine said...

wow what a fantastic job you did of capturing this fellow, absolutely fantastic! did you use a tripod. Love that cat in the last picture, it reminds me of my cat

rainfield61 said...

By zooming in, the dragonfly hides secret no more from you.

Haha.... it is naked now.

LindyLouMac said...

The cat came to, you must tell now you have tempted us. The photos today are stunning, you are so talented Gail.

Tanya Breese said...

gorgeous shots! that cat is scary, i think i'll stick to dogs!

Anonymous said...

They just look so surreal up close...a work of art! You really have a great eye for getting their best angle ;)....the cat however....kinda scary. Thinking of you with Isaac. We dodged a bullet, we are just getting the outer bands of wind and rain...but y'all are right in its path. Hope you found some batteries and water! Praying it shifts while in the Gulf.

Michelle said...

Amazing macros...I love the close ups of the eyes. That cat has some kind of attitude....wow!

Unknown said...

Unreal shot of that dragonfly! I'm going to have to try that . . . now I want to see the video and the cat made me giggle this morning - thank you!

Amy Burzese said...

Wow. That first shot is magazine quality.

And, oh my, is right. Why am I thinking of a horror movie? Geez.

Starla said...

I never knew there are such wonderful creations as a pink dragion fly!

The possessed cat story is a MUST!! OH MY!

hootnonny said...

The macros are excellent! What sweet faces they have and I love the turquoise coloring. About the pink ones, have never seen those before!

Bitty looks like the devil incarnate! My guess is that yall had a hellish weekend!

You're in my prayers as Issac races toward you. Stay safe and dry.

Unknown said...

Amazing my friend. I just love these shots..

Hope you have a happy week.

Hugs~

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Hmmm, your weekend makes me curious. Love the dragonfly shots - so cool!

beth said...

oh god. scary cat.

but super cool dragonfly photos. wow !!

Anonymous said...

OMG..your dragonfly shots are out of this world, and the pink dragonfly is new to me. It will be love at first sight for me if I ever get to see them in real life.

Gorgeous photos I tell you, and your butterfly shots below too..I'm in love with these critters :-)

Eat To Live said...

Beautiful, Beautiful photos you took. Do you enter them anywhere? If not, you really should. You do an excellent job.

LOL..... that cat looks like the cat from Hades.

Nadine, Chewy and Lilibell said...

Amazing pics!!

Now Gail, you can't just go teasing us with that pic, you've got to tell the story!

Kittie Howard said...

Gorgeous photos! Especially loved the second to last pink cutie.

Hmmm, that's not a happy looking cat. Come on, spill the beans!

Brian King said...

Fantastic photos, Gail! Really nice job! I've never seen a pink dragonfly! That's awesome!

Lee Ann L. said...

The dragonfly shots are AWESOME! That cat looks extremely irked, unhappy, or angry. 8-O

Lisa Gordon said...

Gail I did not even know that pink dragonflies existed. They are gorgeous!

Okay, now for the cat...that's scary!! Hopefully it was just a momentary "thing??" :-)

xo.

Crack You Whip said...

Those pics are unreal amazing! Really.

The cat made me laugh. Great pics!

Charlotte Wilson said...

Gail,
Does it ever amaze you that there are atheists out there when you show us God's wonders? These shots are amazing and so detailed in the colors...Just like they were painted that way.
That cat looks like the cat from HELL!

charlotte

Deanna said...

You gotta tell us about the weekend...you can't tease and not tell. Love your images of the dragonflies, exceptional, especially that pink one...wow!!

Elise Ann Wormuth said...

Well, that's quite a "kitty"! Yikes! Your dragonfly pictures are absolutely gorgeous. Are you taking them handheld or on a tripod? My hands are too unsteady to do without a tripod, and the darned insects don't often cooperate and stay put!

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

Girl-Child, you amaze me with the ability to get shots I can only dream about. Drop my jaw on these photos. LOOK at that dude! I can see his big white toothy grin... looks like he takes care of those pearly whites.

Pink dragonfly? I awesome!

Cat??? What was his problem?? Did the lens eye scare him?

Unknown said...

Within a half inch?
Well, that's amazing in itself.
But your photographs...frankly, there aren't even words for how stunning these are.
The Roseate Skimmer?
Wouldn't have believed it could be that pink; it's Pepto-Bismol pink.
Itty Bitty?
Bet that's an interesting story...and I really like cats.
Most cats anyway.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

We are WAITING for that story ;>)..that's some cat.

The dragonfly pictures are just wonderful absolultely!

I trust you are not in the area of LA getting hit by the storm?

Hilary said...

These are absolutely stunning shots, Gail. The dragonfly macros.. oh my! That pink beauty.. I've never seen anything like that. And that cat... lol.. I need to hear that story! What a hoot!

Be safe!

Suzan said...

Gail!! Your dragonfly is amazing! That first picture of his eyeball and the eyeball on the far side with all the tiny prisims. and the tiny hairs and the colors in the eye --- totally amazing.
Then the second and third shot - head on--- shows his monkey face. Dragon flies are very courious insects and like to watch you watching them. I'm so captivated by his face - that I forgot to notice the lines of his wings. Very nice Gail!!!

Dave said...

Nice dragonfly photos Gail. Those macros sure show the little creature up - Dave

Dave said...

Nice dragonfly photos Gail. Those macros sure show the little creature up - Dave

Nancy said...

Holy sh*t, Gail. Those dragonfly photos are eff'n great. Now that kitty is a whole nother story. Yikes.

Tabor said...

These are stunning and I am so glad Hilary gave you a POTW so I could come here and see them! The dragonfly actually let you get that close...amazing!! That pink one is a true beauty and something I have never seen.

Dan said...

Wonderful macro shots, Gail. They are spectacular!

Congrats on being named POTW!!!

TexWisGirl said...

i came back to congratulate you on yet another POTW, but i happened to see nancy's comment above and i'm almost laughing too hard to type! :)

ellen abbott said...

exceptional photos of the dragonflies. I've never seen a pink one before. and that cat look devilish.

Barbara said...

Oh my gosh, that cat!! I can only imagine! But those dragonflies are amazing. We had so many a few years ago of all colors, but the past two years I guess it's been too dry. Glad I can still see them on your blog! (Praying for you!!)

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

That cat and your "resident" birds don't look like good combination....in fact I don't think this cat and people make a good combination....

You got SO close to the dragonfly, what a dream! Love the details and colours of the eyes. I've never seen a pink dragonfly so am really pleased you managed to catch some shots of it to share, wonderful!

Tina said...

Gail what beautiful dragonfly images and that pink beauty...never seen one that colour before...gorgeous and well the cat...hmmmm...that's quite the cat :-)