Month: July 2015

Floral Photography

Echinops

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on Echinops

When I first saw this plant a few years back I assumed it was some sort of Allium. I was wrong. This is from the genus Echinops, and is in the sunflower family (Asteraceae) and the tribe Cynareae, if I can trust Wikipedia on the matter. I love learning about flowers, and finding their relations. The common name for this is  southern globe thistle.

Echinops ritro, 7.30.15
Echinops_ritro,_7.30.15

Insect Photography

An Unusual Instance … At Least For Me

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on An Unusual Instance … At Least For Me

I don’t shoot posed things for the most part. I like to head out on walks and see what I find and shoot in the natural environment. That’s not to say I don’t like what others do, though. I know some people purchase flowers from the florist and take them home so they can work with them using their perfect lighting and a background of their choice. I guess I’m just too lazy for that kind of thing! I know others who pose people or objects to get just that perfect work of art. Again, laziness on my part, I suppose.

I also don’t shoot animals unless they are alive. Until maybe now. I’m fairly sure this butterfly was either dead or dying. To be honest, I felt rather bad, and hadn’t a clue what is best to do with something like this. Was it suffering? Should I have helped it along in its death? (I don’t actually think I could have done that, though.)  Ah well … not knowing what else to do, but seeing its beauty, I pulled out my camera.

I’m still not sure how I feel about what I did. I’m not even sure what I think of this shot.

Swallowtail, 7.28.15Swallowtail_7.28.15

First Shot, Floral Photography

First Shot

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on First Shot

This is, as you can read, my first shot from today. It was a very warm six mile walk, and my feet felt about twice as heavy, but I did it and now I’m enjoying the cool of our house. (I hope it manages to stay this comfortable (we don’t have air conditioning), since we are in for some high temps.)

Thanks goodness for social media! Someone helped me with the flower identification and I can now write that it is a Catananche caerulea, with common names of Cupid’s dart, blue cupidone, and cerverina. I love knowing things like this! 🙂

First Shot: Purple Flower, 7.28.15First_Shot-_Purple_Flower,_7.28.15