Happy Monday!

Independence Park in Baton Rouge has been my "go-to" place this summer for flowers and insects. I know you're rolling your eyes and saying "Not another macro post!" Well, I suffered to get these shots, so I'm sharing. How did I suffer, you ask? With temperatures in the mid-90s (fahrenheit) and a "feels like" temp of 100+, let's just say it brought back nightmarish memories of summers in Texas. I went out with my camera every other day, staying about an hour at a time because one day I over-stayed and almost fainted. I'm brown as a raisin, though!

Hope everyone has a fabulous week!

More Flutterbys!

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome back on my last post! It made my heart swell with joy to know that so many of you still care. Group hug! I replied to everyone that had a return email address attached to their Google account, but several of you didn't. FYI

My fuzzy memory can't remember how long I've had the 100mm macro lens, but I can tell you that it has rarely left my camera body since I received it. Bertha and this lens make a good marriage, I think! The poor 100-400mm lens lies neglected in my camera bag, pining away for Bertha. But what can I do? This new lens has me smitten right now. Is it possible that a camera lens has the ability to stimulate serotonin levels? Maybe I can throw these happy pills in the trash soon.

Macro photography is CHALLENGING, y'all! Why is it, when I'm walking around in this Hades-like climate, there is no breeze to cool me off? Yet the minute I point my camera at something, Mr. Breeze makes an appearance, laughing maniacally at me, I'm certain. Despite my often loud protestations and proclamations of The wind is not my friend, while begging it to CALM DOWN FOR ONE BLASTED SECOND, it continues to annoy at the worst possible moments! And just when I think I've somehow convinced Mr. B to be still, my subject moves, or worse, flies off. Maybe that's why I never get bored with doing macro shots, because just the idea of getting that perfect image is such a thrill. 

Now, on with the show! These were all taken the last week of August and first week of September at Independence Park in Baton Rouge.

Monarch

Spicebush Pipevine swallowtail
Thanks for the correction, Kim!

Talk about flitting about! These guys are constantly fluttering their wings while they feed.
Out of 200 shots I'll bet 5 had decent focus on the wing markings.

Silver-spotted skipper - a first for me.
I only had a handful of chances with this rare sighting. I'm still stalking his whereabouts to do better.

Fiery skipper (pretty sure)
Skippers are some of my favorites with those soulful brown eyes.

Eastern tiger swallowtail

A beautiful specimen with no tears on the wings.

Long-tailed skipper

Anybody know what type of butterfly this will turn into?
I have nearly Googled myself to death. Help!
Update: Thanks, Tammy & Hilary for helping me identify this is a clouded sulphur!

Where flowers bloom

Where flowers bloom so does hope. ~Lady Bird Johnson

You'd think it's springtime around these parts. I keep envying the fall foliage I'm seeing posted everywhere, but then I realized after uploading these pics I had taken recently that we have color, too. Maybe not the way I prefer, but color nonetheless. As the song goes, you may not get what you want, but you get what you need.

Our satsumas are finally starting to ripen. Tiny green fruit resembling small limes began showing up in May. I counted almost 20 satsumas hanging from the branches. Finally, after months of waiting, they are ready to eat, and they are delicious!

I am deeply grateful for all the emails and prayers for my son and me. He has been MIA for 2 weeks, so I have filed a missing person's report with the LAPD. That's the very abbreviated version. I will give an update whenever I know more. Blogging, visiting other blogs, and commenting, along with praying, is keeping me sane for the time being.

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The Big Picture

When I became serious about photography four years ago, I was told very early on to "fill the frame". Once I saw the benefit of isolating a subject, I couldn't stop. In life I have no trouble "seeing the big picture", but in photography, give me the details, baby. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy all styles of photography from landscapes, to black and white, to artfully processed. And while I marvel at all the different styles, I still end up zeroing in on the details for my own stuff. I went out the other day with the intent to think more about composition and landscape, and by the end of the hour I was back to zooming in like nobody's business. In short, I'm in a rut, photographically speaking.

Last night I was at a dinner for my husband's potential clients. I was nervous before going, and prayed that God would help me be at ease, since social situations with strangers make me nervous. With my stomach tied in knots and a pounding headache, I trusted that God would get me through the evening. No surprise, my ailments slowly evaporated as I held several wonderful, meaningful conversations with all four couples; two of which are birders! They were telling me when and where to go and promised to call if they saw the bald eagle they had spotted recently in our neighborhood. My husband was showing off one of my bird shots on his phone and one of the ladies lit up and said, "You're a photographer? I need someone to shoot a graduation party." My heart sunk because I can't shoot people. I explained that I'm a nature photographer, but I do want to learn how to do portraits and people. Maybe one day.

After focusing on the big picture (pardon the pun), I came to the realization that my fears prevent me from being successful and happy. So I decided to find a local class that teaches portraiture. Right now I have an email out to a private tutor that specializes in portraits, since the community college classes were online only.

Below are examples of my attempt to get the "big picture", and how each time I ended up with a detail oriented shot. I'm determined to break this habit and branch out! The same way God is helping me to overcome my social phobias, I am confident that He will guide me in this and all areas. I just have to ask!

Anyone know what kind of flower this is?

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