Cicada Shell

macro photo of a cicada shell hanging under a fence railLeaving for work, I noticed the sunlight gleaming through this abandon cicada shell hanging under a fence rail.  I came back a few days later, right around the same time, and got this photo of the backlit shell.  These empty shells disgust my wife but when I was a child we would play with them in the summer.  We had great fun pretending they were aliens, space ships and monsters.  Maybe because of that, they remind me of simpler times and summer fun.

 

Smiling Dragonfly

photo of a dragonfly perched on a branchI spent some time one summer day watching and photographing the dragonflies that buzz around my backyard.  This individual almost seemed to pose for me.  In this shot it looks like the dragonfly is smiling for the camera.

Busy Hummingbird Feeder

Photograph of four hummingbirds at a feederThis hummingbird feeder was literally buzzing with activity.  Here you can see three female Ruby Throated Hummingbirds perched on the feeder.  They all stopped to look as the male approached from the right.

Pipe Vine Swallowtail

Searching for good photographic subjects on Big Walker Mountain, I happened upon a group of these large, blue and black butterflies.  My friend James Shelton, who is quite the amateur entomologist, tells me this butterfly is a Pipe Vine Swallowtail.

Eastern Cottontail

photograph of an Eastern Cottontail rabbitWhile walking down a trail at Deep Run Park, in Henrico County, VA, I saw two Eastern Cottontails feeding on vegetation.  I took a few picutures at a time and then moved closer.  The two rabbits let me get within about 20 yards before they decided it was time to go.