Artomyces – iNaturalist [G]uineafowl puffer is commonly harvested [in the marine trade] This photo of Artomyces was taken while on a hike in the Deam Wilderness in southern Indiana. The Deam Wilderness covers 12,472 acres, and it is managed by the Hoosier National Forest. I always love taking photos of the weirder parts of nature, […]
Monroe Lake [T]he waters were much calmer once we arrived there Some days are better than others on a lake. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it’s cloudy, sometimes it’s sunny, and sometimes the water level is so high that the surrounding woods and parks are entirely flooded. That was the situation for this kayak on Monroe […]
Mackinac Island It can be a cold endeavor standing still in the dark Mackinac Island is a small island near the bridge that takes you from Northern Michigan to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This is a very dark place, especially in the winter when I took this photograph. There are challenges with shooting photos at night […]
Adirondack State Park The few faint lights on the bottom are campsite lights along the water’s edge When you think of New York you don’t think of a dark place good for shooting astrophotography. However, Adirondack State Park in remote northern New York is an excellent place for shooting the stars. I took this photograph along […]
Acadia National Park You can see a shooting star in the top center When you live up north, summer is the best time of year to shoot the stars. The nighttime temperatures are bearable, and your camera batteries don’t cold-crash. I took this photo in Acadia National Park in Maine last summer while camping. If you look closely, […]
Saguaro National Park This meant feeling the heat of the sun throughout the day This photo was taken while on a hike in the east side of Saguaro National Park. The east side of the park has a trail called the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail. It spans 11 miles and proceeds slowly uphill from west […]
Big Bend National Park The Milky Way was so readily visible to the naked eye It’s been five years since I took this photo of the silhouette of an ocotillo against the starry night sky in Big Bend National Park. I have to say that despite taking astrophotography in several other parts of the country, […]
Northern Lights Forecast The sky went from a shade of green to a burst of red I’ve chased the Northern Lights for my entire adult life. Whenever I’ve heard a forecast that the Northern Lights might be visible near to where I am, I have attempted to see them. There was one night when I […]
Mason Wasps – BugGuide The abdomen is noted by three thin stripes The wasp pictured here is a pitted mason wasp. This is a solitary wasp that is found across the United States and southern Canada. It’s most common east of the Great Plains. Within the Euodynerus genus, it is the most common species. The […]
Swift Feather-Legged Fly – Bug Guide Look in grasslands, hedge rows, and crops, which they are likely to inhabit This photo of a swift feather-legged fly was taken in my backyard. The fly was staying around as I was cutting zucchini off the vine. There were a few in the garden, but this one was […]