They're back!

They're back!  After much anticipation, the swallowtail caterpillars are back.  We haven't seen any adults flying around, but obviously they've visited. 

These were all shot the evening of 29-June and most used a flash because I shot them around 9PM. 

This guy (or gal) was munching on some baby parsley.  He's about 1.25" (~3cm) long, so he's been here for a while. It's safely in a container in out kitchen for the next few weeks being pampered.

We have milkweed growing to attract  Monarch butterfly's, but none yet. 

Update 30-June - good thing I took the time to photograph the eggs.  Today, they had all hatched!

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 0.8 sec @ f7.1
ISO 800
aperture priority
Curves adjusted for contrast

Here's a first.  A baby caterpillar just outside their egg.  Pretty cool, eh?  You can see how it ate a hole in the shell to get out. 

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 4.0 sec @ f4.0
ISO 400
aperture priority
Curves adjusted for contrast

Here's a shot of an egg next to a ruler to give you perspective.  The markings are 1/16", so it's probably 1/32" (0.08cm) in diameter!  We counted at least 6 eggs. 

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 25.0 sec @ f9.0
ISO 800
aperture priority
Curves adjusted for contrast

Not your typical macro

I found this rather large specimen next to the railroad tracks near my home.  This is not from a dandelion, I'm not sure what the plant it.  Regardless, I thought it made for an interesting wide-angle shot.


Submitted for Weekday Macro #5

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/30 sec @ f3.5
ISO 200
Curves adjusted

Knecht's Covered Bridge

This is Knecht's Covered Bridge, shot last spring.  It's about 15 miles from my home.  Looks like it leaning a bit :-( 

This post gets a triple bill.  Monochrome Weekend, Sunday Bridges, and Shadow Shot Sunday #110!!

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
60mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/50sec @ f4.0
ISO 100

I took this shot of the inside.  I liked it so much that I printed it 11 by 14 on metallic paper.  I don't know why it took me so long to post this, it ranks as one of my most favorite shots. 

 Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
49mm Focal Length
Exposure 1.0sec @ f5.6
ISO 100

Window Reflections

A very subtle reflections from this window.  The house attached to this window is some 160 years old and the property is preserved land in Bucks County.

Submitted for Weekend Reflections #40

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM lens
Exposure 1/800 sec @ f2.2
ISO 200
Curves adjusted for contrast

Fence finial

I took my youngest son on an expedition to explore a new stream, adjacent to a park.  The stream was a bust, but the path through the park took us past some beautiful homes, one of which has this awesome wrought iron fence.  I had the 24-105 zoom on the camera because I was hoping to capture some birds or wildlife.  I should have used the 50mm and I may return to do just that.  Not that this is a bad shot, I think it would be better with a wider aperture.

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
105mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/50 sec @ f4.0
ISO 800
Curves adjusted for contrast

Lighthouse

Late last week, I decided I was going to take Friday off and go for a motorcycle ride.  I hoped to choose a destination that would offer some photographic opportunities and also allow me to get in a decent amount of miles.  After researching points of interest and parks, I settled on a two-destination trip, Elk Neck State Park and Susquehanna State Park, both in Maryland.

I got on the road at ~9AM and took the direct route to Elk Neck, arriving ~11:30.  Here's a google map link.  The lighthouse is at the very end of that road.  The 'B' mark is where the visitors center is located.  As you can see, this peninsula juts out into the Chesapeake Bay.  

Once you arrive at Elk Neck, it's about a 1/2 miles 'hike' to the star attraction, a 31 foot (10 meters) lighthouse.  Here's a shot of the plaque that gives information about the lighthouse.  

Aberdeen Proving Grounds is just across the bay.  The Army tests munitions there.  As I was walking towards the lighthouse, they set one off and the sound was VERY impressive. 

I brought a sandwich, so I decided to eat before taking photos. Here's the view from the bench where I had my lunch.  No too shabby.  What you can't see is just beyond the bushes and trees, there's ~100 foot (30 meter) straight drop to the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. 

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/320 sec @ f11
ISO 200
Curves adjusted

I took a lot of shots and I will be posting them as I get to them however, this is my favorite shot.  I believe the concrete pilars formed a fence that surrounded the stable, which is no longer there.  I like the perspective of this shot and, of course, the exaggerated proportions due to the 10mm focal length. 

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/320 sec @ f11
ISO 200
Curves adjusted

cold, hard steel

The Montgomery Square United Methodist Church is building a new church and I visited the site Memorial Day so I could safely walk around.  I thought this was interesting in monochrome.

Submitted for Monochrome Weekend, Vol 2 Issue 43.

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM lens
Exposure 1/320 sec @ f11
ISO 200
Curves adjusted for contrast
Monochrome

Purple and White flower

I have no clue what type of flower this is, but it's something my wife planted.  I particularly like the details of the pistil.

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 1/13 sec @ f8.0
ISO 800

Aperture Priority
Curves adjusted for contrast

Strawberry

I must have tried to photograph strawberries a dozen times.  I think previous attempts were done at night with a flash.  This came from natural light and looks pretty good. 

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 1/10 sec @ f2.8
ISO 800

Aperture Priority
Curves adjusted for contrast

Daisy's

Here's a series of daisy shots, all slightly different genus. 

This is a form of a Gerber Daisy (my favorite).

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 1/100 sec @ f8.0
ISO 640
Curves adjusted for contrast
Aperture Priority

Your basic Gerber Daisy

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 1/100 sec @ f8.0
ISO 640
Curves adjusted for contrast
Aperture Priority

I decided to get in as close as possible to the center of this daisy and get a shot of the pollen. I really like this one, both color and composition.

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 1/60 sec @ f2.8
ISO 800
Curves adjusted for contrast
Aperture Priority

Reflections of the eye

My wife spies this bee in one of her Pentas plants.  I think it was bedding down for the night (assuming bees do that sort of thing).  It spent time what appeared to be grooming itself, then found a spot and didn't move.  I must have taken 10 shots and this was one of the better ones.  You can see the reflection of the sun in it's eye, but if you look carefully, you can see reflections of other parts of the plant as well.

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 1/60 sec @ f2.8
ISO 800
Curves adjusted for contrast

Penta Heart

My wife purchased Penta's to attract butterfly's.  I was using the macro lens and was going from flower to flower and I noticed this pistil in the shape of a heart. 

For other hearts, visit Clytie's Random Hearts. She finds the coolest hearts you can imagine!

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens

Exposure 1/100 sec @ f2.8

ISO 800

Curves adjusted for contrast

Aperture Priority

bark

Here I go, all artsy-fartsy again.  This 50mm lens is a KILLER!.  I was in a park near my home and there was this enormous tree in the park.  As I got closer, I saw some amazing textures in the bark, so I got in as close as I could and took this shot.  It's really cool in color, but I think it's way better in monochrome.  You be the judge.  

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM lens
Exposure 1/60 sec @ f1.8
ISO 200
Curves adjusted for contrast

Purple flower

I shot this in the field near Stover Myers mill.  The thought these flowers were really cool.

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM lens

Exposure 1/400 sec @ f4.5
ISO 200
Curves adjusted for contrast

Bridge Reflections 1.1

Some time ago, the Pennsylvania Department Of Transportation (PennDOT) released a list of bridges and their status.  The status reflects the condition of the bridge and it's ability to handle traffic.  Several bridges near me were identified as 'Structurally Deficient' which means "the bridge has deterioration to one or more of its major components ".

When returning to work from lunch the other day, I noticed there were police and construction people all over one of these 'Structurally Deficient' bridges.  They changed the traffic pattern so traffic only flows in one direction to reduce the load on the bridge.  The bridge also has some nasty curves leading to it which contribute to many accidents.


I did some investigation on the PennDOT website and discovered this bridge was constructed in ... 1838!!!  (I'm not sure if I believe that date)


The website has lots of other information on the condition of the bridge (wait a few seconds for Google Maps to switch to street view), but I was fascinated to learn that it was built so long ago.  Since this is a major road, I'm assuming the bridge will be demolished and replaced with a boring, ugly modern structure, so I decided to get up close and personal and get some shots.  I hope you enjoy it. Too bad no one was around to video tape my approach to the bridge.  It was very overgrown with lots of poison ivy and I was doing all kinds of funky steps to avoid it.

Submitted for Weekend Reflections #37 and Shadow Shot #108 (I actually try to get multiple themes in my photos)

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens

10mm Focal Length

Exposure 1/80 sec @ f5.6

ISO 200

Curves adjusted

a boy and his dog

This is my oldest son, Nick, dressed for his Junior Prom.  I thought it was cute how Zephyr sat next to him and looked at him.  I wish I had used a tripod because it's a little blurry.

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM lens
Exposure 1/50 sec @ f1.4
ISO 500
Curves adjusted for contrast

Rainy drive

I'm driving home from work one cold, rainy day.  Sitting at a traffic light, I decide to take a few shots.  Did I mention it was cold?  If you look in the upper left of the photo, you can see remnants of a snow flake.

I use this photo as the wallpaper on my droid.

It seems blogger has lost a few of my photos, so I'm reposting :-(

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM lens
Exposure 1/200 sec @ f2.8
ISO 200
Curves adjusted for contrast