pipevine swallowtail

These butterflies are common in the mountains of North Carolina.  I stumbled up on several on the bank of a small stream.  This one stood it's ground as I approached and allowed me to capture several shots from 3-4 inches away.  Then it slowly lifted off and circled me.  As I researched what type this butterfly was I came across images of it's caterpillar stage.  Wildly enough, just a few days earlier I have snapped off a few frames of a strange caterpillar, it turns out they are one in the same.

last season

80mm f3.2 1/80s ISO100

Down and out in the weeds, these snow skis are retired.  Left-overs from seasons past.  Used and abused, raced and wrecked, now just stored and bored, they long for one last season.

organic leaf green

28mm f4.0 1/100s ISO100

experienced through exposure. weather, sunburst and insect creature alike use the leaf hard.  the phylum, the slide, the xylem and the cut... this flora stands firm. rigid. flowing, tall. organic leaf green. strong.

metal leaf green

28mm f2.8 1/10s ISO200

experienced through exposure. weather, neglect, detergent and diners use this table hard.  the grind, the slide, the spill and the cut... this table stands firm. rigid. chipped, scratched. metal leaf green. strong.

assembly required

80mm f3.2 1/20s ISO200

handmade ceramic alphanumeric beads.

RWB

Happy Independence Day America

even though the declaration was ratified on the second  ;)

Brenda Photo Challenge: Freedom

Abraham Lincoln was instrumental in freedoms of all persons.  We tend to think of freedom as escape from foreign oppressors... or loose pants.  Many times the freedom is much closer to home.

pirates of the carolinian

Isle of Palms, South Carolina, USA.

Palm Tree Agree or Disagree?

I'm not sure this qualifies as palm trees of the beach for me, but hey- I did spend my day with my toes in the sand.  That isn't too bad.  The five of us have been on vacation for the last week.  My apologies for the gaps in posting and hope to catch up with everyone very soon.

look to the sky...

wild wild life

"He got some wild, wild life
Break it up when he opens the door
Whoa ho ho
He's doin' wild, wild life"

follow me home

"So drink up my wine
Yes and the song in my bones
I know the way
I can see by the moonlight
Clear as the day
Now come on woman, come follow me home"
-Dire Straits

the distance

feather away to conquer the sight.  

turn focus my eye to see.

the distance away is close at night.

the glory right here to be.

see the obvious

126mm f6.3 1/125s ISO200

somewhere. someplace. sometime.

embrace the mercurious joy.

let your heart sing.

shine.

Happy Fathers Day To Me.

Forever and a day... I'll always be the luckiest dad.