The magnolia fruit is always an early sign of fall. The bright, warm color and soft texture of the cone contrast sharply with the dark, cool, shiny leaves of the tree. This one was framed almost perfectly between two leaves.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Big
This panoramic photo was stitched together from 10 separate images taken at the Richmond Folk Festival on October 13, 2012. There were 6 stages hosting musical acts ranging from Argentina to Ethiopia. The scene depicted above was on one of the hills as a band named “Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Pineiro” played Cuban music. We arrived there just after watching Wang Li play the Chinese jaw harp. Needless to say it was quite a big event.
You can click on the picture above to see a larger version of it.
Pokeweed Berries
Pokeweed is such a colorful plant. With it’s pink stems, bright pink flower clusters, and dark blue berries it’s easy to forget it’s poisonous. It wasn’t until after I took this picture I noticed the tiny spider on one of the berries.
Great Blue Heron in a Tree
While photographing a tree on an island in the James River, I realized there was a Great Blue Heron perched on one of the branches. Pleased the heron was close enough for some zoomed in shots, I took several pictures before it flew away. This was my favorite picture of the bunch.
Like all the other pictures on my blog, you can click on this one to see a larger version of the image.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Happy
Cycling and photography are two of my favorite activities. Both activities make me feel happy and alive.
On October 6 I visited one of the more scenic spots along the Tour de Richmond cycling route to try my hand at photographing cyclists in motion. This photo really captures the speed and motion of cycling as I wanted to portray it. I thought it fit in well with this week’s photo challenge because the cyclist looks really happy too! Click on the photo to see a larger image.
Late Summer Cardinal Flower
Praying Mantis on Pine
This praying mantis was on a picnic table when I found it. I moved it to a pine tree where it began climbing as I began shooting.
Grass Seedpod
The long stem of this wild grass silently hangs above competing weeds, wildflowers and native plants, patiently waiting for its seeds to drop. Some will be eaten by birds and field mice. Others will fall in places they cannot germinate. But for eons these simple seeds have dropped from similar pods carrying the lessons of their ancestors. Each year enough find their way into the earth to continue the silent tradition.
Blue
This picture was taken after a rain shower in the early evening of a warm September day. Between the rain dripping off the porcelain vine berries and the bright, mixed colors of the ripening fruit I couldn’t resist getting a few photos of them.
Grasshopper
The grasshopper waited quietly in the tall grass and weeds while I watch and photographed it. When I attempted to coax it into a “better” pose it decided I was no longer trustworthy and quickly disappeared into the foliage.