Tropical Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus oileus). Although listed as common in SW Florida, this is the first one I've seen.
This is a male feeding on Broomweed (Sida acuta) which is a host plant for this species.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Reflections at One Sarasota Tower
I am fascinated by reflected sunlight and clouds. Light is essential to both nature and photography.....so this post about sunlight reflected off the mirrored windows of a Sarasota, Florida high-rise building is really not so out of the ordinary.
One Sarasota Tower is a 12 story high-rise building overlooking Siesta Bay in Sarasota, Florida. Bathed in sunlight, the mirrored windows of this post modern commercial office tower reflect the sky and it's surroundings.
There are taller buildings in the area....but none use sunlight, clouds and reflected images to draw one's eye to nature's impromptu art.
Managed by Icorr Properties, One Sarasota Tower has 137,139 sq feet of office space....in addition to it's external beauty.
Reflected light in photography can be stunning, but it is often difficult to capture.
Here the distorted images of nearby windows become abstract art.
Buildings, sky clouds, trees. What is real, what is reflection?
Is the blue the color of the sky or the color of the glass?
Shooting into the reflected sun...a difficult exposure.
The blue colors change with the angle of the sun....and the clouds become more ephemeral.
I love the blurring at the right hand corner of the windows. From left to right....real palm, reflected palm, distorted image.
Laser beam from a passing UFO? No, sunlight, glare and reflection....made brighter than the background sky by the angle.
The sensor didn't want me to take this shot.....too much glare, flare and distortion....but I like it!
This was a fun shoot with my daughter Chrissy on a sunny afternoon in downtown Sarasota. Come on down and see it for yourself!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Florida Fall Butterflies
Gulf Frittilary (Agraulis vanillae)
Late summer and fall are great butterfly times here in Southwest Florida. Here are some species we have seen recently....mostly in our backyard butterfly garden.
Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
Queen (Danaus gillippus)
Long Tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)
Whirlabout Skipper (Polites vibex)
Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)
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Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes)
Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus)
Orange-Barred Sulphur (Phoebis philea)
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
Barred Yellow (Eurema daira)
Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Florida White (Appias drusilla)
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Bayshore Live Oak Park in Black and White
Bayshore Live Oak Park is a linear park along Charlotte Harbor, Florida. It's a great place for a walk, or to relax on a bench and watch the water. I'm putting up this post as an honor to my favorite landscape photographer, Clyde Butcher. Clyde is having a show and reception at the Charlotte County Historical Center which is located in the park. The show, "Visions of Florida" opens with a 5pm reception on Oct 4 and runs through Jan 26th. Come meet Clyde at the reception and be sure to see the exhibit.
The park has a nice fishing pier.
Picnic pavilion, rest rooms and outdoor amphitheater.
Clyde is a master B&W landscape photographer....can't wait to for this exhibit....hope to see you there!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Ghost Crab on the Gulf Coast
Ghost Crab (Ocypode quadrata) is a common, albeit seldom seen, resident of Florida's Gulf Coast sandy beaches.
With a pale colored body and generally nocturnal habits, this crab often goes unnoticed as it digs it's burrow in soft sand.
It's family name, Ocypode, means fast feet! And they are...as they scuttle sideways.
If you see a hole in the sand....not far above the high tide line....then observe quietly. You might see our little crab throwing sand out of his burrow.
Perfect Ghost Crab habitiat at Boca Grande Beach State Park on Gasparilla Island.