As I captured this photo, it occurred to me that it’s name, Cloudless Sulfur, does makes sense.
Not all butterfly names make sense to me.
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Category Archives: Nature
Curiosity Killed the Cat
My photo reminded me of the expression, “Curiosity killed the cat.”
I think it means that sometimes our curiosity can get us into trouble.
As a photographer, I like exploring, so I’ll take the risk.
Besides, the second half of the expression is, “Satisfaction brought him back.”
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Prickly Sleeper
I’m taking a nap with no worries.
Everyone has learned that it’s best to leave me alone when I’m sleeping.
Not paying attention to my warning could teach them what it’s like to deal with a prickly sleeper.
Flower Power
I captured an image that made me remember the expression Flower Power.
I think it was a way to encourage peaceful protests.
Often people just wore flowers to look “cool.”
Do you think our little gorilla friend would look cool wearing a flower?
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Bottoms Up
I was having lunch with my duck friend when, I raised my glass and said, “Bottoms up.”
To my surprise, he went bottoms up.
I don’t claim to be an expert in colloquial expressions, but this isn’t what I meant.
Doesn’t “bottoms up” mean to drink your beverage?
At least, I got a photo to remember the occasion.
Eyes on Me
For some reason, I have the strange sensation that there are eyes on me.
This photo shows what I mean.
Ups and Downs
From my photographer’s perspective, this Julia Heliconian butterfly looks good up or down.
Unlike most butterflies, the Julia isn’t restricted to feed on nectar.
Their ability to consume pollen provides amino acids allowing them to live longer than many butterflies.
That makes me think of the ups and downs of the human diet.
Dietary needs are a little different for each person, but I’m fairly certain God did not design most of us to eat potato chips whose ingredient list contains more chemicals than food.
Hmmm, maybe He gave me a body that thrives on potato chips.
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Talk or Face-Off?
My favorite type of photography involves nature, especially animals.
Somehow, animal behavior reminds me of relationships with people.
What these two photos make me think =
Sometimes, you are in the mood to talk, Other times, words don’t solve the problem.
This is what we call a “face off.”
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Why Flowers?
If I remember what I heard in Science class correctly, the reason flowers are colorful and smell good is to attract insects and animals who pick up pollen to help plants reproduce.
As a photographer, what matters to me is the shapes and colors of flowers.
They make my eyes happy. Here are a few examples.
Zippity Zoo Da!
Taking photos at the Zoo can be relaxing while providing some challenges. Here are a few tips to consider. 
Know the Zoo Rules: Before you arrive, find out the rules. For instance, you cannot use any KC Zoo photos for commercial purposes.
While there, don’t block paths or expect people to stop because you want to take a photo.
Identify a Point of Interest: What about the animal interests you?
Be sure to approach your shot to take advantage of your point of interest.
Radi is one of my favorite subjects. What interests me about him is his attitude.
Manage Distracting Elements:
A good first option is to shoot 
from angles that have natural looking elements around the animal.
If you can’t avoid the distracting elements, try using wide apertures, a telephoto lens, and a tight focus on the animal. This will tend to defocus bars or other barriers between you and the animal
A third option is to use the distracting element as part of your composition. I like the way the barriers in this shot convey a sense of passage.
Focus on the Eyes:
When you get the eyes in focus in a prominent
place in your photo, it creates a better connection between your subject and the viewer. I had a difficult time looking away from the tiger’s eyes.
Watch for Antics:
Animals sometimes do funny things. Be on the lookout for those. 
For some reason the koala reminded me of a rock star intently focused on his performance.
If you haven’t been to the Zoo recently, consider adding it to your list.
P.S. You get bonus points if you can name the song that this post title used for a play on words.
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