Orphans 01

For them not interested in reading, you can see the photos in THIS SmugMug Gallery.  

For a SmugMug slideshow click HERE. When you click the link, it will open in a new window and you have two options:
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2) There’s a PLAY/PAUSE button at the bottom-left of the screen with the transition set at about 5 seconds. Note: clicking the PLAY arrow will run a full-screen slideshow. You can then still use the”<” and “>” symbols to the left or right of the photos as this will pause the slideshow.

If you want the full experience, keep reading.

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I have a number of photos that have been left behind; forgotten they are. I call them orphans, but they really aren’t because I don’t forget about photos. Even when I opt not to share some photos, I still look at them. I still make the conscious decision to keep them, back them up, and wait for a time when they may yet catch the eyes of passing blog readers.

On occasion — like now — when I’ve been away from the blog for a bit and readers are beginning to forget I exist, I gather up a few orphans and unorphanize them.

That’s what I’m doing here. No specific reason to choose a particular photo other than me going through my orphans and picking some based on how my mood strikes me.

Rainy day grass appealed to me in this instance. Other days, it might not have impressed me in the slightest. I mean, it obviously impressed me when I snapped the photo, but that doesn’t mean anything because it’s more how the photo can be presented that drives unorphanizing.

Of course, the ole standby B&G&W Hummingbird in the Rain easily makes the cut.

But, occasionally, I snap photos that are not up to my standards (yes, I have standards; now, pick your jaw off the floor and keep reading).

WARNING **** WARNING **** WARNING

ARACHNID AHEAD

If you are easily triggered by tiny bugs, avert your eyes and move past this section of the post.

These next few photos are of a smart spider. Smart because it built its web next to the light fixture outside my garage.

Since most people ain’t gonna go and look at the full-resolution photo, here’s a crop of the above photo.

Judging by the number of small insects on its web, this is a prime spot.

Mind you, this is a difficult shooting situation because I couldn’t get too close (shrubs in the way), a very bright light source to the side (four 40W LED lightbulbs about a foot away), and the subject against a dark sky.

I had to play around with the settings a bit to get what I got, all the while batting away mosquitoes intent on feasting on my Primo Speciale blood.

Here’s a different photo (and its crop) with different processing.

He (she?) was busy rolling its latest victim.

Based on my research of indigenous Illinois Spiders, I think this is one of the Neoscona Species. Specifically, Neoscona crucifera (Hents Orb-weaver).

I had planned on photographing the web during the day, but it was gone. It turns out, this spider rebuilt its web every evening and destroyed it before daybreak. There are a few other spiders that do that.

These photos are from the evening after the above photos.

This web looked pretty beat up . . . and for good reason. Look at the stuff caught in it.

As it turns out, the spider was just putting the finishing touches on a wrap.

The above were slightly better photos and I was looking forward to improving my technique but the next night the spider wasn’t around. There were a few strands of the web, but not enough to live up to its name.

I got a bit concerned because on the downspout was this critter . . .

Another critter that figured out hanging around (literally) a bright light might make for good eating opportunities. I was concerned it might have snacked on the spider, especially since it didn’t seem overly interested in the mosquito.

Or, was it?

I looked away and didn’t see if the mosquito became a snack or just flew away.

There’s some debate about whether frogs eat mosquitoes. Some say yes, others say no. I don’t think frogs are all that picky, so I see no reason why they wouldn’t.

I shared one photo from Crab Orchard Lake (seagulls) and plan a series of photos about seagulls, but this is my attempt at high art.

Because few will go to SmugMug, here’s a crop of the feather.

I think that’s pretty good from a cheap kit lens, handheld, and in cloudy conditions.

From that same place, these also came.

Again, because few will go to SmugMug, here’s a crop of the above.

I also got me a few wildflowers, complete with foraging bee . . .

You probably didn’t notice the spider web . . .

Here’s a few more thistle and bee shots.

I also had a bit of frustration in trying to photograph this Monarch . . .

I’m also not sure about the plant and flower it was feeding on. The leaves looked like Milkweed leaves, but the flower had all them small antennae. I don’t remember Milkweed flowers looking like that. Regardless, I never got a profile shot.

Again, those are tight crops of larger photos. Did I mention I like the D7500 and the kit lens it came with?

Anyway, this is it for now. Here’s the gallery of the above (randomized):

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

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