Other Wildlife

The dandelions are in full bloom and the bees are buzzing with excitement! I put on my macro lens and got on my hands and knees. I crawled around the yard until I was able to find a bee distracted enough by the pollen that I was able to get super close. These creatures are small but powerful and very important.

No matter the weather, the bison often pastured along the highway south of Traverse City seem oblivious to the elements. I always enjoy seeing them but especially enjoy the winter views when the white landscape makes them stand out even more.

This might be my favorite photograph so far of the entire Tuesdays Project. Flies in general kind of freak me out and they are gross, but when this one landed on the giant glass window of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids today, I was glad that my wide-angle lens is also a macro lens. The macro lens allowed me to show all the detail of the fly and its shadow. F11 at 1/125, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 46mm

Today was our last day in Maui. It took me a week to build up the courage to get close to these crabs and make the photograph I wanted. They moved so fast that it was hard to get them in focus while making sure none of them were crawling up my legs. They looked like hard-shelled spiders to me, which is about as freaky as it gets. F2.8 at 1/400, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Rachel hates snakes with a passion. I hate spiders equally as much. We like to torture each other and text random snake and spider photos to each other. While mushroom hunting with Paul and Lisa Cooper today, I shot photos of this large snake with my iPhone and then sent one to Rachel. I know paybacks will be coming my way soon.

This rabbit was so fat that it really didn't hop very well. It waddled around our neighborhood more like a little piglet. My daughter Julia got a huge kick out of watching our furry, fat neighbor. F4.0 at 1/80, ISO 1000, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I was mowing my lawn today when a slight movement to my left caught my eye. This peering snake had eyes for me. As disgusted as I was, I knew it could make a cool photo for today. I hopped off and grabbed my gear. I gingerly walked towards the area to capture the snake. After I made a couple shots, it slithered away. It was only then that I realized how long it was! I ran quickly away in the opposite direction.

There is no mistaking this traffic signal, or is there? I was already in retreat before realizing this was not a skunk but rather a black squirrel with a white-tipped tail. Once I was sure it was a squirrel I found its tail a beautiful sight amidst the delicate looking flowers in a garden beside the MSU library. F3.5 at 1/500, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

The kids, and several cousins were enjoying time together around Bespop’s pond today. Their laughter filled the air as they caught frogs, fished, and took the boat out. Suddenly, there was a difference in their voices. There was a huge blue racer climbing from tree to tree. This one terrified me way more than the, now small, snake I shot earlier in the week! The kids got a kick out of my squeals of terror each time it moved.

I am sure many a Michigan State University student has been startled by this squirrel, whose white-tipped tail gives him the appearance of skunk, before getting a good look at him in the open as I finally do. F5 at 1/800, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

Kasey is a forever lover of all God’s creatures. Including this frog….or these frogs?? You decide!

I stumbled upon a paper wasp nest in my neighbor's front yard tonight. For some strange reason I decided to take my macro lens and stick it extremely close to the wasps in order to make this photo. Luckily I did not get stung and the pictures turned out well! F6.3 at 1/200, ISO 1250, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

We adventured around the pond today. There are a couple new calves that the kids wanted to check out. Since we were close to the pond, we decided we should check for frogs and turtles. The dragon flies were very busy today!

I have my eye out for a fox kit or a fawn, neither of which comes my way this evening on the Buttersville peninsula. But along comes this rabbit, which within five minutes is nicely in range of my telephoto lens. F3.2 at 1/400, ISO 200, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

For the last couple of years I had heard from many of my friends that they loved taking their kids to Lewis' Farm Market & Petting Farm in New Era, Michigan so Betsy and I loaded the family up today to check it out. We had a blast. I think Betsy and I had as much fun as the kids. Julia's favorite animal was the very friendly camel named Jeffrey. F2.8 at 1/125, ISO 1250, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Who would have thought when my wife Debbie provided a home to a three-legged, orphan kitty recovering at Country Clinic that he would still be with us 19 years later. Angel Tripod has attitude and gives me a little of it as I make this portrait. We are glad to still have his companionship and "Garfield" attitude. F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 165 mm

I photographed this toad on the back deck of my house. When I first spotted it, I was shocked by its size and its reddish-brown color. It had rained the night before so the deck was still wet. I used my new Sigma 105mm F2.8 macro lens that we had purchased recently from The Camera Shop in Muskegon. I manually focused the lens on the toad

The sun was shining bright today, and I think the bees were enjoying the warmth because they were very active in my brother and sister-in-law’s garden. Using my 105mm macro lens and getting in close, I was able to capture this image.

My daughter Julia did it again; she found my photo of the day. While I was busy doing yard work, Julia was exploring in her mother's flower garden and she came upon this tiny little bug. Her screams of excitement got my attention and as I was walking over to see what she had found, Julia was already telling me to go get my camera. F13.0 at 1/13, ISO 100, 105 mm macro lens at 105 mm

My favorite yard in all of Ludington is at Mrs. Graczyk's house on the corner of Loomis and Gaylord Avenue. Every inch of her yard is full of flowers and it has a natural look to it. I found this bumblebee while trying to make a photo of Mrs. Graczyk's flowers. F5.6 at 1/80, ISO 1000, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm