The simple, fragile, Monarch Butterfly make a migration journey each year of about 3,000 miles. Climate and habitat destruction now point to a 75%-95% chance they will be extinct in the near future.
Milkweed is the only plant the Monarch caterpillar will eat. Planting local native Milkweed seems to draw in adults to lay eggs. Our native Milkweed doesn’t look like much, however the young caterpillars ate it all.
Below is a ‘towfer’ shot. The Monarch chrysalis that will hatch a butterfly is hanging just above the Anole.
I finally decided to shoot the Hummingbirds out back the proper way, a longer lens. I’m also only 1/3 of the way through wearing a neck brace. This makes what is usually simple into something a little trick, and probably comical. Solution, dig out the monopod. And discover the brace still gets in the way and… no Hummingbirds 😆.
While standing around I did notice the Carolina Wren chicks bouncing around. One landed on a feeder and I’m getting a bit rusty with this gear. So free entertainment.
Waiting On The Hummers
The ‘Red Hot’ seed cake was popular with the little guys so I did take few shots. That spicy cake actually works keeping the Squirrels away. Birds have fewer taste buds than mammals, the spice doesn’t bother them at all. In fact birds are the main dispenser of pepper seeds since they ‘spread’ the seeds around after digesting the pepper plants.
Waiting On The Hummers
Our local social misfit of a House Finch stopped by also. He’s confused and has spent the last year traveling around with a Tufted Titmouse flock.
Waiting On The Hummers
Specs; OM-1 mk2, OM 100-400 II, Manfrotto/Benro Monopod, Lightroom.
When shooting B&W the final file is usually brought into Lightroom where the original jpg file is cropped and exported or moved to DxO Silver Efex which does all the monochrome work.
I prefer the photograph is finished in Silver Efex, if there is an industry standard that’s the software. However the OM System monochrome mode is pretty good. I have a custom version I use, the images below are the in camera jpg cropped.
Local Little Guy, B&W From The Camera
To make it fun I set the camera to single shot, half shutter press focus, and mechanical shutter. You work, and think, a little different using single shot. Especially if the subject is moving.
I always use a red filter and will push my exposure comp to left a little. I think this helps me take advantage of the darker contrast settings.
Once common, but now pretty rare; the Receiving Tomb.
These rock and tabby buildings were meant to be as cool as possible, and hold several bodies while the burial site was prepared. We are in a tropical environment, so a cool place was critical.
However, a wealthy cotton merchant died and his rather ornate crypt was not ready. His body was in this building for 2 1/2 years. 😵💫
On the edge of one of the earliest burial plots in the area is this single stand alone stone. All through this location there are small stones with vague notations. I usually will take a quick shot and later on do some searching. A quick pass, this was just shot Monday, found nothing.
ADOX CMS 20
The photograph was finished with a DxO film filter for ADOX CMS 20, a special film, chemical, and paper process used in high quality landscape printing. It’s an interesting look the ‘Google’ told me all about so it must be true.
