Conflict

Another couple Hummingbird shots.  I love these little guys!  Female (top), male (bottom).  They look so cute, so delicate.  What you don't see (and what I could never capture with the camera) is how violently the male defends the feeder.  He looks like he could skewer the female when she tries to get a drink!  Not sure how she does it, but she manages to get to the feeder often.

Why does he try to drive her away?  It seems so senseless, so unnecessary.

Good thing we never act that way...

Bazinga!

(Yes, Big Bang Theory reference)

Blur

Another photo taken by one of my kids.  This time our MC (middle child).  No idea how he did it but it sure is cool.  It's a Trillium.  I took maybe 20 photos of Trilliums the same weekend - but I think I like this one best.  The Trillium is a delicate, fleeting flower and this photo captures its 'aura' wonderfully.  

Why

Yes, its a louse - a head louse.  Won't say from whose head.  

Here's the question:  Why does this thing even exist?  What larger purpose does it serve?  I do wonder if creatures like this are an aberration, an unfortunate outcome, if you will.  (I wonder the same thing about mosquitoes...)

The bottom line is we don't know.  OK - some may claim to know the larger purpose of such things - but I sure don't.  All I know is they are a pain - literally and figuratively.

Perhaps they do have a larger purpose in this big thing we call life but I (we) just can't see it.

Painful things are often like that, aren't they?

Macro

Nothing terribly profound to say here.  This picture represents my first attempt with a new toy - A Raynox closeup adapter.   This adapter clips on to the front of a zoom lens and enables incredibly close focus.  This bee was very cooperative because he was very doppey.  It was early in the morning and he was just 'waking up'.  Good thing as it took a while to figure out how to focus this thing and get the lighting right.

Grip

Often the expression "Get a Grip!" implies a deficiency viewed in a negative way.  Often though, we need to "get a grip" because we need something to rest on, or we need something to steady us.  This damselfly has a good (yet delicate) grip - yet there is no sense of weakness.  One looks on with admiration that couldn't be possible if he were flying about vigorously as they normally do.    

Persistent



My daughter took this shot.  The camera was set to manual focus and she didn't know how to change it.  So, she just kept taking shots of this cute (?) little guy.  Wouldn't you know - the best shot turned out to be butt-ugly!  But(t), it isn't really - is it?  Who would have taken this shot on purpose?  But(t), in the end (pun of course intended), the picture shows the essence of this toad and it would not have come to be without my daughter persisting in getting a good shot with an uncooperative camera.



Willing

We almost stepped on this little guy.  Then, we put him in a bailing bucket to get a good look at him.  He sat very patiently while we took a few pictures of him.  Then, to get a better look at him, we put him on a bench.  Again, very patient as we took several pictures.  Then, he decided he wanted back on the grass.  So, off he hopped.  Again, we took several pictures - but none were very good as the grass all but covered him.  So, I gently moved the grass away from him for a couple final shots.  Again, very willing and patient - even when I was very close with my fingers.   I'm quite grateful for the willingness of this little guy to work with me to get such a great final shot!