Halloween spider

These photos were not taken on Halloween, but I certainly thought they were fitting for a Halloween post. I came across this spider after sunset and he was just starting to build his web for the night. It is always interesting to watch the process of web building, various spiders tend to have different ideas on web architecture.

Click each photo for a larger view... I think this little guy could use a razor. The dragonfly (below) sports peach fuzz compared to this!




Unidentified spider (common name is crab spider)

TGIF... the bold & the beautiful.

Click image for larger view.

Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin! Need I say more? TGIF!!

TGIF... Real and Surreal

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Click on image for larger view.

This is not any type of special effect or photoshop technique. The "effect" is simply due to a relatively slow shutter speed (1/60th of a second) and a blackbird that suddenly decided to fly the coop.
I happen to like both images. TGIF!!

Random beauty

Craziness abounds! Good craziness I am happy to admit. I have been out in the field quite a bit lately and you would think that would translate into more posts on my blog…NOT!

Honestly, I am temporarily overwhelmed with keeping all my image files sorted and in order. I am not sure why this process seemed easier in the days of the darkroom… but I keep thinking those were the “good ol’ days”.

My post processing on images is almost non-existent, so unfortunately it is all the tedious stuff that steals my time. In the future, when I get bogged down, I will try to remember to stop and relax just long enough to share a random image.

Just a quick wave!

Click for larger and much better view.

Just a quick WAVE to say "Hello". After my previous post of a major bug, I think I will give the non-bug lovers a break. A break to the coast in fact. This particular wave chose a nice grassy spot on the banks of East Bay to come ashore.

FYI: I have begun to moderate comments. Earlier today I saw a "spam" comment (attached to an otherwise reputable blog) that caused me to make a mad dash for my computer settings. If you feel that this constitutes censorship, I agree with you wholeheartedly. If you choose not to comment on this site due to the fact that I can read "outside" comments before they are posted, then so be it.

TGIF... warning super creepy!

CREEPY! Don’t say I did not warn you.

I always understand when people tell me of their phobia of snakes or spiders. I myself have one of those phobias of cockroaches. I hate to even type it.

If you have the same fear don’t read any further. I was jumpy for two solid days after photographing this toe-biter, way too much like a cockroach to me. I also think that anything called a toe-biter is apt to make one a little skittish.

Having coffee on a patio the other night, when this guy shows up in the parking lot… by the size of it I knew what it had to be. I ran and got my camera and then made a complete spectacle of myself literally jumping around taking pictures of it.

Although I was using my longest telephoto lens, each time it would attempt to fly I would turn and run for cover. Finally one of my friends grabbed my camera and took a few shots, I think just to prove it could be done standing still.

I tried to explain that this was NOT my normal mode when doing wildlife/outdoor photography… they just kind of smiled uneasily and nodded. Well, enough about my antics lets see this bug. TGIF!!


Toe-biter
Lethocerus americanus or if this is the Eastern Toe-biter Benacus griseus


More information than you might ever want to know about the Toe-biter