Shot for the upcoming School for Red Hot Mamas Burlesque and Vaudeville Show. If I were a betting man, I’d bet this show will be way better than it’s predecessors and inspirations from the (1880s to the early 1930s (into the 60s, depending on who you talk to)). cit. needed. But a real-real betting man would know that that’s like betting on the favored horse and the return really isn’t worth the effort. So I’m not going to bet you. But I think it’s going to be a really good show. Probably a shame if you didn’t see it.

The grass came back quickly, as you can see. Really green.

Battus philenor
aka laserface alien octopus-head caterpillar

Accipiter striatus. There’s a pair of these on my dog walk route. It’s pretty tolerant - let me walk around to a couple different angles before flying down the block.

Some of Canyon’s shots from back in April

A little different from my portraits of bugs and birds, but really, the approach isn’t much different - anticipate what the thing will be doing in 2 seconds!

I shot a set of the Becker’s daughter and new son at the end of April, just getting around to posting them. You can just let Willow go and get great shots of her, she’s so animated. And I’m going to get a set of Canyon to post up here too.

At Woodward Park in Tulsa.

I have no clue what this is, but it was large and barely mobile - an abnormally large abomen. And s(he) was goin to town on that piece grass. Didn’t look too pleased with me interrupting the meal. I wouldn’t be. But hey - science. *this is a blister bug*

Coccinella septempunctata.
Or, ladybird, lady beetles. I always think of Volkswagen. It’s been really cloudy and I don’t use flash so last time I went out I had to change, or adapt, the loose general settings from what I had been using. Shot a lot lower fstop and iso at 3200. Which gives me a very shallow depth of field and grain. I haven’t been shooting bugs for very long but i don’t think it’s ideal. Played more with color rather than detail.

for fun…

Like I said, it was cloudy and kinda cool. All these different flies were hangin’ out on these tall grass stalks and most of ‘em would let me get pretty close to ‘em for quite awhile. Except the coolest one - it was orange with red eyes. I got a couple but he didn’t hang out as long as the others.

I actually saw this wolf spider nab this crane fly. I was in the process of slowly getting into position when it darted like a blur and caught it. I started snapping the shutter wildly before I’d even focused in on it to make sure i got something. Then I came to and settled down and actually got some in focus. I wonder if a spider catching it’s prey is the subject of many photos. It happens so fast, I don’t even see how it’d be possible. Unless it’s on a web, of course; but wolf spiders are active hunters, like a wolf, and don’t use webs. I do wish I could’ve positioned myself around in front of him but I knew as soon as I moved, he’d take off and I’d be left with nothing. Think ahead.