Sunday, September 25, 2011

Nature Shots-Bees and Butterfly

This has not been the best year for insects and butterflies.  The drought has been vicious and the heat too high.  Now that it's cooled off a little I'm seeing more activity. 


  swallowtail

Here's a beautiful Swallowtail butterfly feeding on the butterfly bush. It was hard to get a shot because this butterfly moved continuously and the wind was blowing quite stiffly, making the flowers bob around.  His/her wings are being curved around the flower by the wind in this shot.  



swallowtail underside

The butterfly reminds me of a stained glass window from this angle. 




some sort of bee

There were honey bees and these big fellas all over the bush too.


  
bee- possibly Eastern Carpenter Bee


I think these are Eastern Carpenter Bees.  Fortunately none of them objected to having their picture taken.  I've heard that some people use a telephoto and a tripod to take photos like this but I do handheld up close and personal.  If the bees object I run like a girl. These bees are supposed to be fairly mellow.  There were honey bees too, but I didn't get any good shots.

6 comments:

Therese's Treasures said...

Cool shots Leslie, I got a couple shots of butterflies and bees today also.
Therese

Sharyl said...

ooo, ahhh.. Love your photography!

Leslie Todd said...

Thanks, Therese and Sharyl. Therese, I looked at your shots and they are fantastic!

My Life Under the Bus said...

Hahaha I'd like to see you run like a girl! I bet you totally kick *$$. That butterfly is gorgeous very much like stained glass. Beautiful shots Leslie!

Leslie Todd said...

Thanks, Patty. I walked through a spiderweb once and the screams freaked the neighbor out. There was running then, too.

Silver Jewelry Jaipur said...

really so nice photography i like it a lot