(See a transcript below) One of my favorite things to photograph is dragonflies in flight. I love the challenge. I love to watch dragonflies. Not only are they colorful, but their large eyes and behavior make them easy to anthropomorphize and think they have personalities. The key to photographing them is the same as with all animals. First you...

(See a transcript below) Getting the Shot The old joke goes: A man goes to New York to attend a concert, but gets lost. He spots another man who’s carrying a violin case. “Sir, can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?” The musician smiles and says, “Practice, practice, practice.” How do you get to good photos? Practice, practice, practice. Yo...

(See a transcript below) My Gear I have often heard something like, ‘You take good pictures, what kind of camera do you use?’ I have a friend who responds to that type of question with, ‘You are a wonderful cook; what kind of stove do you use?’ Cameras I have used a number of cameras and lenses. I have a Nikon DSLR (digital single-lens reflex c...

(See a transcript below) Intro Several people recently have asked me to share how I get good photos of insects. One time I was visiting Nepenthe, a restaurant in Big Sur overlooking the ocean. I asked the waiter, ‘Have you seen whales?’ To which he responded, ‘Oh yes, I was in Hawaii last summer and saw the most amazing humpbacked whales.’ I smi...

Sometimes I read my past blogposts for the same month from prior years to see where I went and what I was seeing. I notice a consistency. I have concluded that August is a hot month, I stick close to home, birds are quiet until the end of the month, I photograph insects, I do some sort of artwork, and my camera lenses go in for repair. This year is...

Finally June is in full swing with post-pandemic life (if you haven't gotten your vaccine yet, what are you waiting for?). I participated in several in-person group outings: Wetlands Bird Survey, Rancho Los Cerritos Bird Survey, Dragonfly Survey, Whale Watching, Pelagic Birding, and the month started with an 'owl prowl'. Some friends and I went to...

Spring bird action includes courtship, nest building, migrating birds, and hummingbirds! It has been very dry yielding not many spring flowers, except in watered gardens. I ventured into Orange County. Huntington Central Park once again was popping with Pride of Madeira attracting a charm of hummingbirds. A surprise Calliope Hummingbird showed up....

“A joy shared is a joy doubled.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe So let me share some joy. Mid-March is the most wonderful time of year, not only is it filled with anticipation and the first signs of Spring Migration, but it is also my birthday. What a difference this year is from last. Last year was the first days of shutdown from COVID. No celebra...

Finally, the end of a very strange year. With the pandemic surging, year end traditions had to be altered. We had no family dinner for Christmas. I had to forgo my usual running around to stores shopping to stuff stockings, shopping for the big meal, cleaning the house, setting the table and decorating, and cleaning up afterwards. My husband and I...