Beauty of the Wild
Nature photography by Jay Paredes
http://www.beautyofthewild.com/
June 25, 2007
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Great Black Wasp Sphex pensylvanica on Wild Grape Vitis rotundifolia
This image was taken on June 24, 2007 at the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Marsh Trail.

Through the Looking Glass

When I first purchased by Canon Digital Rebel back in 2003 and started my journey into digital SLR photography, it was mostly to get pictures of people and my aquarium fish.  Then one afternoon at my nephew’s birthday party at Hampton Pines Park, I found a few damselflies near a shallow pool of water.  Using the 18 to 55mm kit lens that came with my Digital Rebel, I attempted to get some shots of the little critters. The results weren’t great, but I was happy with them at the time.
 

Red Damselfly Ischnura ramburii
This image appeared on my original web site. It was taken on February 22, 2004 with my original Canon Digital Rebel and 18-55mm Kit Lens at 55mm.

That first attempt at macro (close-up) photography rekindled my interest in taking pictures of the natural world, especially of birds. But now, it is four years later and the macro “bug” has bitten once more…

Eastern Forktail Damselfly Ischnura verticalis
This image was taken on June 23, 2007 with a Canon 20D, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 Macro Lens and Sigma Ringflash.

Milkweed Assassin Bug Zelus longipes on Wild Grape Vitis rotundifolia
This image was taken on June 24, 2007 at the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Marsh Trail.

When I was in high school biology class, we were given an assignment to collect, kill, and mount insects for an insect collection. The number of different species in the collection determined your grade for the assignment. To get an “A”, you needed to collect at least 30 different species. The thought of getting near an insect, let alone capturing one, was repulsive to many students. An alternative was to submit photographs of the insects. The students that tried the photography route (this was before digital) soon found that getting a photograph of an insect was no easy task. Without the proper equipment, it was difficult getting a shot in which the viewer could identify the species. In the end, I think only a couple students stuck with the photography route. The rest just ended up trading for and buying insects from those of us that did the actual collecting.

Tropical Checkered Skipper Pyrgus oileus
Taken on June 24, 2007 at the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Marsh Trail.

Photographing insects is a big challenge, and I dare say it is more difficult then photographing birds. First of all, you are usually dealing with a subject that is very small and can move very quickly. You need to approach carefully to keep the insect from being frightened away. Camera focus is critical for these images. Working so closely to the subject, a slight movement forward or backward can throw your whole image out of focus, so you need to be as steady as possible. Just like my bird photography, I find the tripod more of a hindrance, then help. A tripod will usually scare away your subject, especially if it is a butterfly, or some other flying insect. It will also hinder you from tracking insects as they constantly move from flower to flower. A small breeze can be refreshing, especially in the summer heat, but you’ll be cursing the wind as it sways that flower stalk from side to side. Finally, there all the bugs! I’m serious. You can’t wear insect repellent if you ever hope to get close enough to these tiny creatures, and I’m sure you’re well aware that more than a few insects have a taste for human blood. So try to hold that camera steady, move slowly, and hope that the wind doesn’t blow, while an army of mosquitoes and yellow flies take the opportunity to nibble on you.

Spotted Cucumber Beetle Diabrotica undecimpunctata
Taken on June 24, 2007 at the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Marsh Trail.

Orange Audubon Society's 2007 Kit and Sidney Chertok Nature Photography Contest

Two of my photographs won awards at the 2007 Kit and Sidney Chertok Nature Photography Contest, held by the Orange Audubon Society on June 21, 2007 at the Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, Florida. My image of a Purple Gallinule in flight, titled “My, what big feet you have!” was a favorite among guests, especially photographers, and received an Honorable Mention award in the category Florida’s Birds!.

"My, what big feet you have", Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica, Wakodahatchee Wetlands
Honorable Mention in the Florida's Birds! category.

I also won 3rd place in the No Birds Allowed! category for my image of an American Alligator eating a Florida Softshell Turtle, titled “Predator and Prey.”

"Predator and Prey", American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis and Florida Softshell Turtle Apalone ferox, Wakodahatchee Wetlands
Third Place Winner in the No Birds Allowed! category.

There were quite a few beautiful entries this year, many of which I though should have been recognized. The biggest surprise of the evening, was for my father, Jake, who won first place in the Florida’s Birds! category for his version of a Purple Gallinule.

Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica, Wakodahatchee Wetlands
First Place Winner in the Florida's Birds! category.

If the winning image looks familiar, that’s because I took a very similar image that is the highlight for the April gallery. It’s not all that unusual for several photographers to come away with nearly identical images when you shoot together. As a founding member of the Everglades Photographic Society (EPS), I often find that fellow members have many images that are virtually identical.

If you are a photographer interested in joining EPS, keep checking the EPS web site. We will soon announce criteria for joining the group. The mission of EPS is to promote education and conservation of the natural world through photography.  We hope that it becomes a full blown nonprofit organization that will work with other conservation groups, as well as educate photographers and the general public about photography and Florida’s unique ecosystem.

Thank you for reading. If you would like to add someone or unsubscribe from this e-mail list, please send your request to jayparedes@hotmail.com. For the latest images and more, please visit the Beauty of the Wild galleries.