Arcas Cattleheart

Continuing with my "5" rated photos (in alphabetical order) we come to a pair of Arcas Cattlehearts doing what mother nature intending them to do to preserve the species. As I mentioned yesterday, butterflies offer a potential for a beautiful photo because of their color and/or because they usually feed on very colorful plants and flowers. But sometimes they won't sit still or even land in order to get that photo. Sometimes they pose and you get a good photo. AND, once in a while you find them mating and you get a great photo. Such is the case today:

Arcas Cattleheart

Apricot Sulphur

Butterflies offer the potential for a "5" rated photo. It can be challenging because a butterfly may never land and so you wait patiently for landing and it never happens. Often the colorful patterns are on the dorsal  (uppe-rside) and when it does land it almost immediately closes it's wings. It mostly depends on the species. Some will land and open and close their wings quickly several times and then close them the rest of the time they are feeding. You might take 7 or 8 photos quickly and find that none of them were at the split second when the wings were wide open. A very fast focusing camera with quick bursts is helpful in those cases. As you will see in later posts, some butterflies land with open wings as if saying, "please, take my picture." In today's photo, this Apricot Sulphur like most sulphurs, keep their wings closed while feeding. But in this case, it still offers a wonderful color contrast with the bright red flower on which it is feeding:

Apricot Sulphur: Tucson Botanical Garden

Antelope Jackrabbit

Unlike the Desert Cottontail which is most often seen here at The Azure Gate and elsewhere in the Sonoran Desert, the Antelope and Blacktail Jackrabbits are less often seen. Saguaro National Park is the most reliable place, but only early morning or just before dusk. Sometimes they will run once they see you, but other times they will either continue eating (grasses or mesquite pods), or pose for a photo. This Antelope Jackrabbit decided to pose. I found him while hiking in the Galiuro Mountains, which is the next mountain range east of the Rincon Mountains (where Saguaro National Park is). 

Antelope Jackrabbit: Galiuro Mountains, Arizona

Anna's Hummingbird - II

Today, another Anna's Hummingbird gets a "5" rating.:

Anna's Hummingbird: photo taken here at The Azure Gate B&B

Anna's Hummingbird

Here's an example of a "5" rated photo where the detail might actually be distracting. This Anna's Hummingbird appears to rejoicing in its life; with "open arms" saying thank you to its creator:

Anna's Hummingbird

American Marten

This American Marten photo was taken in Canada. Just like a great many of my Canada Geese photos are taken in America. (Both species are actually found through North America). Normally, I wouldn't rate this a "5" photo because it is a little "grainy" and the detail not as "crisp" as other "5s." It was barely daybreak when I took the photo. I was too close for the lens I was using (less than 10 feet). And, it was not a high quality camera. However, it is 1) a rarely seen animal; 2)  carrying prey it just captured;   3) in an area (Wells Gray, BC) that I love; and, 4) I guess just a wonderfully exciting experience watching it all happen.  And, since I get to set the rules for my ratings I can do whatever I want! 

American Marten: Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia

American Bittern

Continuing in alphabetical order my "5" rated photos, this American Bittern, which is uncommon to Arizona -- especially, Southern Arizona. What always strikes me about them is not only how camouflaged they are, but that they remain motionless even if you are close.

American Bittern: Whitewater Draw Arizona