I find these plants fascinating. There seems to be a lot going on there. I underwent heavy bee buzzing to get this photo.

"...Because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

~From the Apple ad

A stealthy deer watches from her hiding place.

Found this guy lurking on top of my clothes dryer. I thought it was a baby Praying Mantis but, after studying this photo of it, I discovered it's actually a Mantidfly, Leptomantispa Pulchella. Unfortunately, it died two days later. Too bad because I understand they dine on other bugs.

When I look at this duck, I can't help thinking he would look good as a postage stamp.

The sounds of a summer evening in the midwest. Lots of tornadoes this year.

This deer was so agreeable that I was able to flip the right switches on my camera and capture a little video as well as all the photos I had taken.

Sharp focus is the key!

A tiger catches some sun at the local zoo.

This bird wanted to make sure I was getting its "good side" in the photo.

Earlier in the day I had gotten myself into a place in the woods where I didn't want to be. I was being attacked by mosquitos and couldn't see the ground because of the undergrowth. Whenever I can't see the ground, I imagine there are snakes nearby. I finally walked out of there and decided I would keep to the well developed trails for the rest of the day because it would make for easier going and I really didn't feel like battling bugs and jungle-like growth.

When you see one snake in the grass, it's not a huge leap to assume there are probably more nearby. This made it especially challenging for me to get down in that same grass to get a photo of this guy. I am not a snake person. I am not even a large worm person! Kneeling there, I was sure I felt phantom snakes crawling over the backs of my legs. I wanted a good photo so I put up with my imagination. Getting the snake's eye in focus was going to require "threading the needle" with the focus. A little left or right and I'd be focusing on the surrounding plants instead. To make things more difficult, the snake kept adjusting his head up and down to blend in better with the surrounding plants. Finally, its eye became visible between the leaves so I got a few frames. I liked this shot the best because, when viewing the photo at 100%, I can see myself in its eye.

SKYNET is up again. They are sending down "Listener Drones" to monitor the populace. They do this every year during the summer months.

Below you see a Listener Drone and network node bot. Note the static wicks on the landing pods to dissipate static for a cleaner signal. Note too the large tail boom that does double-duty as a gigahertz antenna. The orbs that look like eyes are actually sensitive microphones and the only weaponry onboard is the gaping metal maw near the microphone-orbs. The wings are of a kevlar-like material with a pattern of ribs that contributes to their extremely high tensile strength. The wings connect to the fuselage, ahead of the tail boom, with advanced high-pressure hydraulic actuators. You do not want to be targeted by one of these rascals. Just sayin'...

Found this moth resting on a blade of grass. It was not interested in moving at all. Must have been tired or something.

One thing I've noticed, as an aging photographer, is that the older I get, the slower I get. I think I may be so slow now that I am invisible to certain animals. There have been two times, in recent months, when I've nearly been run over by deer on a path because, apparently, they couldn't see me standing there. Not until I waved my camera did they break right or left and avoid trampling me.

Then, about a week ago, I was out on a drizzly day and happened across some large bumble bees that I was trying to get shots of in mid flight. I guess I must have been very still aiming my camera at the bees because, while I was standing there, I caught a brown blur out of my left eye (this is why you shouldn't close your non-shooting eye when taking photos!) and looked around my camera to see this bunny, flying down the path, headed directly at me. As soon as I aimed my camera at him or her, it stopped in its tracks and sat down, almost as if to say, "I'm ready for my close-up." I got one shot off and it got up, spun around and was off in a flash.

I'm ready for my close-up!

The three phases of meeting a bunny. First the bunny is shocked and sits down. Then the bunny turns to leave but rotates its large ears, like RADAR antennas, tuned to the perceived threat. Finally it gets into fourth gear and boogies on out of there.

Steller's sea eagles are the largest species of eagle in the world.