Water gardens, and the benign insects they attract

This morning I was kindly invited to participate in a photo outing with the Carolinas Nature Photographers Association. We were permitted to shoot at Water and Garden Creations of Frank L. Schwartz (in Johnston County), where there were a variety of lotus, waterlilies and other aquatic plants. It was a great place to photograph, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

I was hoping to "catch" some dragonflies. The weather began with a fully overcast sky and reasonably cool temperature, so we suspected there might not be much dragon activity. The bees were out, so I went after them, as well as the flowers themselves.

I used lens tilt to get everything in focus for this one:

After awhile, a few dragonflies did appear, and with some patience I managed to photograph them in a variety of poses and with various perches and backgrounds.

As I had a 600 mm setup for the skittish dragonflies, I used it to get extreme perspective for a flower portrait.

The bee is in flight, and seemingly so is the flower.

Wherever there are insects, there are usually spiders. This one was pointed out to me by a fellow photographer. I had to hang out over a pond to get this shot (with a 100mm macro lens).

Finally, no story of photographing around still water would be complete without an example of reflection.

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Stalking the little creatures at the arboretum

The Raulston Arboretum harbors a lot more than trees and flowers. There are also hosts of insects that feed and pollinate, as well as some fish and amphibians.

I've hoped to have a shot at some dragonflies, and got my chance Monday.

I don't tire of observing bees and capturing them at work.

I've worked that area, goodbye!

Really getting into it.

Here comes a dragon, headed for a perch with a good background. Will it land facing me?

Yes, and it angled its body upward and caught the sunlight! The iridescence of the wings lasted but a moment. Now I can enjoy it at my leisure.

The sky was the best background for this group.

Swaying in the breeze, it was a challenge to frame and focus on this moth while it perched on a flimsy flowering stalk.

It was a little easier in this location, though those six legs were moving.

Taking a sip.

This one is almost camouflaged for its flower perch. I angled for a background that would show them both to advantage for my eye and my camera.

Watch out for this ambush.

This combination of bloom and desiccation made me think of driftwood.

A garden variety sea serpent?

This bullfrog watched very patiently for any flying insects that might approach.

To the unwary quarry, he might be no more noticeable than this.

This dragonfly almost got too close!

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