Bee on Flower

Denver Botanic Garden, July 2013.

Nikon D300 | Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro Lens

Bee on Coneflower

A Bee on a cone flower - shot at 50mm.

Nikon D300|Nikon AF-S18-55 f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

Rose of Sharon - Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee on Rose of Sharon. Back yard, July 2010.

Nikon D300|Nikon AF-S18-55 f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

Macro Fun

Waited patiently as the gnats, flies and mosquitoes treated me like an all you can eat buffet trying to get both of these micro-bugs in the frame and in focus. I had no idea a macro lens would be this much fun!

Nikon D300|Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro Lens

Dragonfly - Eagle Creek Park

A dragonfly on a rock. Eagle Creek Park Indianapolis, May 2013.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

New Macro Lens

Just having some fun around the yard with my new macro lens.To give you an idea of scale, the full diameter of the pink flower is 1 inch (including the part that is not visible in image), the length of one petal is just under 1/2 inch and the bee is roughly 3/16 - 1/4 of an inch in length (body only, not wing span).

Nikon D300|Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro Lens

White River Gardens - Owl Butterfly

Caligo Butterfly resting on a white, steel I-Beam.

White River Gardens, Indianapolis.

May 23, 2013.

Canon EOS 50D| Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro.

Yellow Jacket

I found this Yellow Jacket roaming around in the rock garden one fall afternoon. I Don't know how I managed to get this close without getting stung, but I did! 

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Just Bee-cause

Bees have a long proboscis (complex tongue) they use to extract nectar and pollen from flowers, like the bee in this photo is doing.

Tiger Longwing

Tiger Longwing | Heliconius ismenius | Wingspan: 2.5 to 3.6 in
Family: Nymphalidae | Subfamily: Helioconiinae | Tribe: Helioconiini

I did my best to identify this butterfly from various field guides. I think I've got it right, but I also realize that there are several other very similar butterflies. If you think it may be something else, leave me a comment. Thanks.

Photo shot at the White River Gardens, 2009.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Butterflies return to the gardens March 22, 2013.

Damselfly - Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary

I think this is a Damselfly (2012) but I am really not sure, so I will defer taxonomy to my biologically gifted friend who used to stockpile all kinds of disgusting muck and bugs in her freezer, in the name of research! 

Dragonfly - Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary

Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary in Connersville, Indiana (2012).

Caligo - Owl Butterfly

An Owl Butterfly - White River Gardens (2009).

Butterflies take flight at White River Gardens March 22, 2013.