Sunday View - 25 August 2024 Edition

The weekend weather has been very friendly and it seems that perhaps Autumn may arrive sooner than later. I know I'm in the minority but it can't get here fast enough for me. The last several Summers have been way too hot. Though this one has been a little better. With some more comfortable temperatures I made it to one of my favorite spots to photograph. The Morris Arboretum right on the edge of Philly. I got lots of shots that I will share over the next few posts but to start today I'm staying small. Real small for the most part. Here are some pollinators and other insects that I saw. Oh, and one Robin.

Until next time...

Saturday View - 21 July 2018 Edition

Welcome To The Exploration Photography Daily View

In the front of our house right outside our front door there is some ornamental onion grass that Kim and I planted sometime last Summer. We used it to replace a plant that we believe to have been eaten by deer. And though I have seen deer in our yard since they seem to be leaving our garden alone. Now I never knew that the the onion grass would flower but it sure has. And let me tell you bees of many variety seem to really be attracted to them. I have seen yellow jackets, bumble bees and even a bee or two that I've never seen before. I've even seen some kind of moth or butterfly (or whatever it is) that I've never seen before. And none of them seem to bother anyone or be attracted to anything but these onion grass flowers. I did share a photo that I shot with my phone last week. Today however I decided to shoot a few frames with my DSLR. I got some good shots though I think I'll give it another try. For now though I would like to share this one with you.

Click for Full Size Image

Not bad for a handheld shot. But next time I think I'll use a tripod and remote.

Here is the EXIF data.

And here is Yesterday's View.

Friday July 20, 2018

And that will do it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Welcome To The Saturday View

For the past couple days I have been noticing something unusual in our front yard. Well unusual for October that is. Then today it got a little more unusual. And not for the good.

What we have is a handful of dandelions on our lawn. Not terribly out of place but being Autumn they really shouldn't be there. But what is bad is I saw a very young bee on the dandelion. What I am thinking is that the weather has confused mother nature and things are going awry. I am no expert but common sense would dictate that the bee will definitely not last through Winter. And that means less bees in the Spring and that means flowers and vegetables will be affected. Let's hope things straighten out.

So for today's photo I would like to share our Autumn oddity.

Click For full Size Image

Technical Info

- Canon EOS 80D
- Sigma DC 18-250mm Lens at 212mm
- Aperture Priority
- Aperture F10
- Shutter Speed 1/125 Second
- ISO (Film Speed) 250
- Spot Metering

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Friday October 13 2017

And now I must go my friends. But I'll be back real soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Until Next time...

Welcome To The Thursday View

It seems as though there is a growing trend here but today's post is yet another snapshot. It is however a snapshot+. I actually had something else in mind but when I got home from work and saw this I knew I had to share it.

There's not many bees left for this season but this one sure was determined. He didn't even seem to notice me.

Click For Full Size Image

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Wednesday September 20, 2017

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Welcome To The Thursday View

Today's post is going to be a quick one my friends. So for a photo I am sharing a snapshot with you. Check out this close up of a bee that I grabbed last week.

Click For Full Size Image

And I do mean close up. I was only a few inches away. But fortunately the bee was too busy to notice me.  Ha, a busy bee. Okay. That was bad :)

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Wednesday July 12, 2017

 

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 28, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Yesterday I told you about our trip to Black Rock Sanctuary and about all of the great subject matter I had the opportunity to shoot. And today I was going to show you another one of them. That is until I happened to be in our pool and noticed all of the butterflies, birds and other wildlife that seemed to be very active. So I got out of the pool and ran inside to grab my camera then got back into the pool and carefully made my way back to all of the action. I was very nervous about the very real possibility of dropping my camera and ruining it for good. But fortunately I didn't. I did however grab this shot.

He was all the way inside the flower but made his way out as I was shooting. I think he was in a trance or perhaps a bit drunk off of all of that pollen. At one point he was really covered in the stuff. I must say that it is nice to see bees around here. But I am also sad to say that we don't have nearly as many as in years past. Another side effect of humans messing with the works. I actually still know people who would kill them off. We are going to be very sorry one day. Very sorry indeed.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Saturday August 27, 2016

And that's all for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - July 20, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

While out photographing the other day I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of natures most feared yet also most interesting insects. There was a time when you couldn't get me near one of these little guys but I have grown to be fascinated by them. And I have found that when treated properly there is very little risk of upsetting them. I am of course talking about the all important bee.

As far as I know I am not allergic to bee stings. But the last time I was stung was as a child. Probably about 40 years ago. And I know we can develop allergies as we age. So I will be very careful as I capture them on film (or virtual film).

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - July 15, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

I was out in the Garden Cafe this evening cleaning and filling up the feeders and I noticed a bee hanging around one of the hummingbird feeders. I thought it was a long shot but I went inside and grabbed my camera to see if I could get a good shot. And for today's photo I would like to share this with you.

I was kind of nervous shooting this but he was much more interested in the nectar than me. Sometimes the hummingbirds have to work around or chase the bees away.

And here is a video I meant to show you last week. It's a small glimpse of one of our mornings at the beach in Atlantic City during our trip for the Independence Day holiday.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Thursday July 14, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - December 28, 2015

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

This afternoon I was going over some photos from the last several months. Ones that I have not previously shared. My normal process after I go out shooting is to create a folder with the days work and carefully screen them for the few that I want to show. I then do whatever post processing I feel is needed and decide what I want to share and where. Some I show here and some may be posted to one of the dedicated photo sharing sites that I use. Then like today, every once in a while I take a second look. And sometimes I find something that I skipped over the first time around for whatever reason that I think has some merit and decide that I would like to share it. And that is what happened today.

Today's photo is from September 26th of this year and was shot at Longwood Gardens.

As all of us in the Northeastern U.S. knows the weather has been very unseasonably warm. So now it is of no surprise that this bee was still buzzing around in late September. But when I shot it I was very surprised. As I have said before I really, really LOVE this weather we have been having but I sure hope it doesn't affect this Spring and Summer too much. It's just not normal.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - September 6, 2015

Hi and welcome to a late edition of the Daily View!

It really is getting late so this is going to be quick. Yesterday I shared a photo of a Dragonfly I shot at Longwood Gardens and today I would like to share this with you.

How's that for a closeup? And I was close. probably four or five inches away. I am amazed I wasn't stung. guess he was too busy to notice me.

And that's it for today folks!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 11, 2015

Hi and welcome my friends!

Here at Exploration Photography I share a lot of images of our local wildlife with a strong emphasis on birds and squirrels. And flowers. Lots and lots of flowers. But today I would like to share this.

After all without these little guys there would be no flowers. We have always had a decent number of bees but now that I have added a hummingbird feeder to the Cafe those numbers have gone way up. And I couldn't be more pleased. I understand more and more every day how one part of nature works with other parts. By adding that feeder I have attracted hummingbirds. To attract more hummingbirds I added more flowers. I have also attracted more bees and those bees will help produce more flowers. It's a big circle. And how about the other birds that frequent the Cafe? They also help keep the insect population down. The squirrels? Well if nothing else they provide lot's of entertainment. Isn't nature awesome?!

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - July 18, 2015

Hi and welcome to another early Saturday Daily View. Kim and I are going to be in and out all day so I don't know when else I am going to get a chance to post. Though I may try to do a bonus second Daily View. Maybe. But for now please check this out. Again it's not the most crisp photo I have shared but it's pretty cool.

This bee was pollinating leaves laying in our driveway. And there was more than one bee. Strange huh?

And I'm going for now but keep an eye out. I may have more for you later.

Until next time...