Intermission

In between the fireworks shots, I went back to the local butterfly exhibit, as today (the 4th) it was free to get in.

Predictably, it was mobbed, with about an hour wait time to see them, standing in the blazing sun, no shade in sight.

So, for you my dear readers, I suffered to bring you the following pictures.

No, not really, I like the heat, so I can't truly say I suffered for my art.

Statically in Motion

This image isn't PhotoShopped, it's taken with a slow shutter speed (1/50th of a second). What you have here is one butterly sitting quietly on a leaf (no doubt the male) while another bounces frantically around (most likely the female) complaining they will be late for the sale at Macy's.

Intelligence

Entomologists claim that butterflies are highly intelligent, despite (or in spite of?) their fragility. This picture perfectly illustrates this, as you can plainly see the butterfly is reading a cookbook, no doubt entitled "How to Serve Man"

Cyclobe

Cyclobe = meaning one tailed butterfly. Well in my mind anyway. Ok so that word play didn't work....

...Ok, so, moving on-

A local botanical gardens is hosting a butterfly exhibit where they fly around freely in a large section of the main building. An airlock lets you in an out (and prevents them escaping into the world to mete out unimaginable horrors, ok well not really, I don't think they've got any plans to breed Mothra anytime soon) and beyond that, you can stay as long as you want (or can stand the heat inside a greenhouse, and regular misting anyway). No backpacks so I stuck with my 50mm dedicated Macro on my Nikon D1x.

I See You

One of the major, in my opinion, highlights of the invertibrate house, was their collection of walking sticks, all hanging upside down from a single large plant.

Fantastic creatures, you can see the eye following you wherever you go.

Sweet dreams :-)

Watch Me Soar

This moth was attached to the screen door of the place I was staying in over the weekend. I didn't think this would turn out, as I was handholding a macro lens, but I'm very pleased with it.

Different

An ultralight of a different sort. The field where the event was being held was chock full of dragonflies and other large insects.

This little fellow was perched on an antenna and more than willing to hold steady for some great shots.