Beauty, bugs, and more… Photography’s fascinating underbelly
These are the kinds of scenes that make you glad you brought your camera.
And shots like these are fun when you learn how to pay attention to your surroundings.
And a 12x zoom makes you brave enough to take shots like this one of a wasp on some wildflowers.
But there’s an unexpected drawback to learning how to get in close and really notice your surroundings. You start to see things like this.
… and this … 
… and this … 
… and this …
… but perhaps more importantly, things like THIS
What is it, you wonder? Let’s get a closer look.
It is the discarded skin of a snake, who apparently rubbed it off on a fallen tree because he outgrew it. I know it’s hard to get the correct perspective from the pictures (because this was the point I decided I was more committed to my own well-being than to photography), but to help you picture it properly, I’ll tell you that the too-small skin was longer than both my arms outstretched. If I had tried (and believe me, I didn’t), I couldn’t have grabbed one end of the thing and reached the other end, even if I pointed my fingers and really stretched.
And now, to help you (and me) get rid of that creepy-crawling feeling at the tip of your spine, here’s a bunny:
Aww. Now that makes it all better, doesn’t it?
I still don’t know if I’m going to look forward to more trips to the lake.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:42 am
You go, girl!
The grasshopper photo is creepy (but good). How on earth did you get that shot?
The bunny is my sentimental fave, but only because I can’t resist small, furry creatures that look vulnerable.
Keep snappin!
July 24th, 2008 at 11:46 am
She flew onto our windshield as we were driving down to the lake! I have 3 GREAT pictures of her (him? it?), but the face on that thing is what really cracks me up.
Anyway, thanks for the encouragement (as if I needed it, lol)! I’m dragging my feet on Assignment 3, but I’ll get to it eventually.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Getting that grasshopper shot was what you call “serendipity”. On the flip side, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said to myself, “Crap! Left my camera at home again! Serendipity like that, and I can’t even take advantage of it!”
Do as I say, not as I do….
July 26th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Ha! That grasshopper looks all calm but really she’s saying “hooooolyyyyyy craaaaaap” if she’s on your windshield!
July 26th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
LOL, Heather! I never thought about it that way.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
You could sell that shot somewhere - I don’t know where, but that is amazing!
Trudy
July 31st, 2008 at 9:09 am
The grasshopper was a great shot. However I loved your lake photos. You do an amazing job!