Today's photo is a hover fly found in my garden last summer. These tiny flies may look like some sort of bee or wasp, but they are not. They cannot sting. They are beneficial in the garden, as the larvae eat aphids and the adults help with pollination. They earn their name from the habit of hovering near flowers and then darting to a new location. According to the Texas Master Gardener Program, the hover fly can also do something most insects cannot do. It has the ability to fly backwards. As a gardener, I love hover flies because they help control insect pests and help pollinate my flowers and veggies, but as a photographer I love these tiny flies because they are so bright and beautiful.
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Today's image was created in Photoshop using a photo of Dog Roses I took this summer. I loved the play of delicate pinks and soft greens in this image as it evokes a sense of peace and tranquility. I think the globe creates a bit of magic, drawing the viewer into a secret world that lies just behind the flowers where anything is possible.
Today's photo is a collection of flower photos that I took in 2017. These flowers remind me that spring and summer will return and give me something to look forward to during this frigid weather in Maine.
Many photographers share their favorite photos from the year, but I couldn't choose one or two. I've decided to share some random photos with you today. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the photos I've taken throughout the year. I'd love to hear which are your favorites.
Today's photo is a pileated woodpecker. His name can be pronounced either PIE-lee-ay-tid or Pill-lee-ay-tid. I grew up calling it a PEE-lee-ay-tid woodpecker. I'm not sure if that is a Maine pronunciation or whether it was a family thing. I try to remember to say it correctly now, but I don't always succeed, especially if I am excited to see one (which I usually am).
I know these impressive birds live nearby as I hear their call often and see them darting between the trees, but they seldom come close enough for me to get photos of them. Today's photo is of the little dirt road beside my house after our first snowfall. This is the area where I take many of my summer photos of wildflowers and insects. A few weeks ago the entire landscape was shades of brown. A blanket of white is always a welcome sight.
Today's photo is a wild violet with a little digital twirl added to the background. I love this effect because it uses the natural colors of the image to make the twirls. I like to think of it as the energy of the violet with its soft colors and delicate swirl. This effect does not work with all photos, but it is delightful when it does.
Today's photo is of the pier at Old Orchard Beach in November. The beach was deserted, the entertainment was closed down and all that remained were seagulls, sand and the ocean. Although it was extremely windy and cold, I enjoyed my first visit to the beach. Quite frankly, I was happy to visit during the off season when I could enjoy the natural beauty of the place without the distractions of modern life.
Today's photo is a frozen dewdrop or raindrop. The perfect little sphere was frozen in time when the temperatures dropped here in Maine.
According to an ancient Arab legend, dewdrops filled with the light of the moon fell from heaven and landed in the sea where they were swallowed by oysters creating luminous pearls. I prefer to think of them as the jewels of fairies that hide among the flowers. |
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November 2021
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