Summer Shots

Each season presents one with its own unique photo opportunities.  Autumn with its colorful leaves and rutting ungulates followed by the snow, ice and eagles of winter slipping into spring as the waterfowl migrations move northward, vegetation takes on a mantle of green and flowers burst forth into bloom. 

As summer follows spring Butterfly numbers begin to increase and young animals sightings become more numerous.  An evening spent at a nearby meadow although somewhat uncomfortable because of the biting insects was nevertheless enjoyably spent photographing the beauty of early summer.

The thistle, just beginning to bloom, is attracting the colorful fritillary butterflies pictured here.  As there are so many varieties of fritillary I will not attempt to identify which variety is pictured here. 

A young cottontail back lit by the evening sun sits with ears aglow; maintaining an alert surveillance of its surroundings. 

Its curiosity won out when it moved to within a few feet to investigate.  While it was watching I stayed busy capturing its close-up image; an image so close that even the small tick attached to the side of its face is quite visible.

This little rabbit showed no fear as it stared me down.  It closed the final distance quickly leaving me in a position from which it was impossible to get to the viewfinder of my tripod mounted camera.  The Canon 60D's articulating LCD proved up to the task as it allowed me to focus and make the shot.

Seasons come and seasons go.  As I ponder the question of which season is my photographic favorite I conclude that my favorite is what ever season it happens to be at the moment.

Note:  After a long absence from blogging my son, Chad, has resumed weekly posting.  Take a moment to pop over to see his incredible images and inspiring text.