-
Beautiful Kent CT Barn in the Fall
Cheryl and I went to scenic Kent CT this fall for the purposes of capturing some beautiful barn images. You’d never guess it but this was photographed on the edge of a downtown parking lot. Just behind me about 50 – 100 yards were hundreds of people taking advantage of the fall weather going in and out of small quaint shops and restaurants. However, everything pointing west, in the direction of my camera, was just scenic countryside. Kent is situated in the northwest region of CT bordering New York State about a 45 minute drive north from the City of Danbury. There is a special charm to Kent and worth…
-
Praying Mantis
Interesting facts about the praying Mantis: There are about 2000 species of Praying Mantis but only 18 species live in North America. The remainder live in tropical climates. In 1977 the State of Connecticut named the European Praying Mantis the state insect. It is not native to North America but fairly proflific. They have approximately a 1 year lifespan and females will typically lay their eggs in fall as they develop through winter. Females will frequently cannibalize their male counterpart during the reproductive process. The large majority of Preying Mantis have two eyes but only one ear located on their underside just forward of the hind legs. This ear comes…
-
Swallowtail Butterfly
This butterfly was busy jumping from flower to flower. I believe in belongs to the Swallowtail family of which there are over 550 species but I’m no butterfly expert. Fun Facts: Butterflies taste with their feet allowing them to quickly identify food sources. They only consume liquids which are typically nectar. Butterflies cannot fly below 55 deg. F. Their ideal temperatures for thriving and flying are between 85-100 deg. F. On cold days they are forced to either shiver or bask in the sunshine to warm up their body temperatures. The lifespan of a butterfly consists of the caterpillar stage, the pupa stage and the adult butterfly stage. Depending…
-
Bumble Bee Closeup
This bumble bee was very busy today making his way from flower to flower. I felt he created a striking image as he contrasted with the purples and greens. Photographed with a Nikon D7100 APS-C, 24.1 MP camera and a Nikon 105 mm, f/2.8 MACRO lens. 1/1000th, f9, ISO 1600
-
Black Swallowtail Butterfly (Caterpillar Stage)
This caterpillar, if he’s fortunate enough to come to full maturity, will end up a Black Swallowtail Butterfly. I found him, as well as several others, munching on this dill plant. The dill plant is one of their favorite food choices. Caterpillars are preyed upon by many species of birds as well as, yellow jackets, and some beetles. In some parts of the world man is their worst enemy as they are eaten for their nutritional value. They are found in tree tops, garden plants and sometimes grassy areas where they find food in all these locations. Life cycle of a Black Swallowtail Butterfly: Egg Stage (where a butterfly lays…
-
One of Harwinton CT’s best ………..
This beauty was on our list of shots that day in Harwinton CT. As I pulled up I knew I had a winner but the sun was destroying the shot. It was in the low 90’s that afternoon. There were some clouds overhead. Cheryl patiently waited in the car as I stood on the street edge for at least 25 minutes waiting for cloud cover. Eventually it happened. I had nice diffused daylight for about 30 seconds. I got the shot I needed and was on my way. Some barn scenes click with you, some don’t. There was something about this barn that I liked. Photographed with a Sony A7RII…
-
The purple fields of Harwinton CT
Spacious and colorful fields surround this old barn sitting isolated in the countryside of Harwinton CT. Photographed with a Sony A7RII 42.4 MP, full frame, mirrorless camera and a Sony 24-105 F4 lens @ 57 mm. I/200th, f16, ISO 1000, Aperture Priority
-
Harwinton Barn scene
Just as a side note I’ve been shooting barns a long time in CT and Harwinton has got to have the most barns of any town I can remember. This particular scene is part of a several acre lot home to horse stables and riding area’s. However, this was the only barn I had a decent shot on without entering the property. I had the pleasure of working with my beautiful wife Cheryl today. Photographed with a Sony A7RII 42.4 MP full frame and a Sony 24-105 F4 lens @ 57mm. 1/400th, f11, ISO 640, Aperture Priority
