Lotus Gardens

This wasp was visiting the Lotus blossoms at the Lotus Gardens on Sandbridge Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia this afternoon. The morning rain is beaded up on the floating leaves in the background giving it the sparkly look. Canon 7D, 1/2500 sec @ f/6.2, ISO 400, 100-400mm zoom at 275mm.

Sandpiper Strut

- This little sandpiper was strutting his stuff at Sandbridge Beach this evening. He had a strip of about 20 yards of beach that he was working with each wave. When ever another Sandpiper landed on his beach, he promptly chased them off. Canon 7D, 1/200 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800, 400mm.

Hummingbird Sage

The Hummingbird Sage or Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph'. This the developing bud for the bright colored multiple blooms that will appear at the end of this stalk. Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro. Check out the B&W version of this shot at The World in Black & White.

Lantana Bee

- Another macro photo for my bug week. The Lantana really attracts the bees and butterflies. Canon G10, 1/2000 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400 in macro mode.

Another Butterfly

- Yet another butterfly photo the gulf fritillary from the Butterfly House at Norfolk Botanical Gardens. This was a really productive day in terms of getting great photos. We started early so the butterflies weren't real active yet making the chances of getting a good image much better. Canon 7D, 1/60sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro.

Buckeye

- This Buckeye butterfly was a perfect specimen. While it hard to see at the resolutions used for the blog, I was very happy with the detail in this photograph. With three insect photos in a row, I guess this is bug week. Canon 7D, 1/500 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400, 100mm macro.

Busy Bee

- The bees were out in force Saturday morning in the border garden at Norfolk's Botanical Gardens. They were so busy that it was very difficult to catch them in focus on the macro lens. With such a short depth of field and the need to focus manually - it was quite a challenge. I took lots of shots most of which were either soft or had the bee exiting the frame. Into the bit bucket with those. But if you take enough, occasionally you get a few good ones. You've got to just love digital photography! Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro lens, hand held.