Aug 24, 2021 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 16mm MOVO for Nikon 1, Bee, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon 1 V3 Hodgepodge
Nikon 1 V3 Hodgepodge | Bubble Bee Thistle Midwest thistles can grow to be very big plants; big weeds to most folks. When the thistles bloom, bees come around to pollinate. This bubble bee was very busy pollinating several blossoms on this six foot high thistle.
The Back Story This image was captured with a simple burst of clicks during my daily walkabout. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
Event | Daily Walkabout |
Location | Local Trail |
Date/Time | 8/29/2020 2:44pm Local Time |
Weather | Partly Cloudy | 82°F | Moderate Wind |
Method | Simple burst of clicks. |
Gear | Nikon 1 V3 with a 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 lens with 16mm MOVO extension tube |
Exposure | 110mm (297mm) f/5.6 1/500s -0.33ev 200iso |
Post | Smoothed background and add a little definition to bee. |
Aug 6, 2021 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon 1 V3 Hodgepodge, Praying Mantis
Nikon 1 V3 Hodgepodge | Praying Mantis The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs. By any name, these fascinating insects are formidable predators. They have triangular heads poised on a long “neck.” And, they can turn their heads 180 degrees,unique among insects, to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them. Oddly, they have only one ear located on the underside of its belly, just forward of its hind legs. Typically green or brown and well camouflaged among the plants where they live, the mantis lie in ambush or patiently stalk their quarry. They use their front legs to snare their prey with reflexes so quick that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Their legs are further equipped with spikes for snaring and pinning their prey in place. Moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies, and other insects are their usual prey.
Praying Mantis’ Life The praying mantis lives from the spring into the fall. It hatches from an egg sack with the coming of warm weather, looking like a tiny adult without wings. It molts, or gives up its old and outgrown skin for a new and larger one, six or seven times as it grows to adulthood. Once mature, it seeks a mate. In some species, the male and female engage in a ritualistic courtship dance, stroking each other fondly with their antennae before they finally mate. The male may make the ultimate sacrifice, serving as a meal for his mate, or he may make his escape, flying away to safety. Come fall, the female crafts her egg sack, an sculptural jewel perhaps half the size of your little finger. Like a master craftsman, she places her eggs by the dozens in a carefully braided pattern. She covers the sack with a froth that dries and hardens like plaster. She leaves the sack attached to the twig or a trunk of a tree to await the spring hatch. After this climactic act of her life, she will die within a couple of weeks. The preying mantis in the image is likely living in the last few weeks of her life.
The Back Story This Praying Mantis was crossing a road about the time I walked by on a late afternoon walkabout. Luckily, the 30-110mm lens was on the camera so I could stay far enough away from it. I used a short burst of clicks while laying on my stomach on the road. At the time of the click, that leaf had just blown near the Praying Mantis. A moment later, it was gone. For more insect images, see Nikon 1 V3 for Insects | a 7 Image Story. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
Event | Daily Walkabout |
Location | Local Road |
Date/Time | 11/01/2015 3:40pm Local Time |
Weather | Fair Skies | 64°F | Moderate Winds |
Method | Used a short burst of clicks while laying on my stomach on the road. |
Gear | Nikon 1 V3 with a 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 lens |
Exposure | 110mm (297mm) f/5.6 1/800s -0.33ev 400iso |
Post | Sharpened the eyes and lightened a bit. |
Jul 28, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Dragonfly, Nikon 1 V1, Nikon 1 V1 Potpourri
Nikon 1 V1 Potpourri | Dragonfly My Labor Day walkabout turned out to be a kayak about; this Dragonfly hitched a ride for awhile. Now, I have not been an insect photog and do not have lenses to get those cool insect shots. Still, even with a simple telephoto and a kayak, I was able to capture a decent image of this Dragonfly. For more insect images, see Nikon 1 V3 for Insects | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story This image came from a simple click after kayaking. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
Event | Day on the Lake |
Location | Pleasant Lake, Michigan |
Date/Time | 8/31/2014 4:35pm Local Time |
Weather | Cloudy | 72°F | Light Winds |
Method | Simple click after kayaking. |
Gear | Nikon 1 V1 with a Nikon FT-1 Adapter & Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR lens |
Exposure | 170mm (459mm) f/5 1/250s -0.33ev 100iso |
Post | |
Jun 17, 2021 | 21mm MOVO for Nikon 1, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Butterflies, Daily Image 2021, Macro Flowers & Butterflies, Nikon 1 V3
Macro Flowers & Butterflies | Tiny Mighty This little critter seemed to be very shy compared to the other butterflies. For more images, see Peck Butterfly House | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story Patience is a virtue when capturing nice macro images, particularly when the subject moves.
Details…
Event | Visit to Peck Butterfly House |
Location | Northern Illinois |
Date/Time | 6/18/2021 2;40 pm Local Time |
Weather | Partly Cloudy | 88°F | Light Winds |
Method | Time and patience are required for handheld focus. |
Gear | Nikon 1 V3 with an Nikon AF-S 70-300mm lens and a 21mm extension tube |
Exposure | 300mm (810mm) f/7.1 1/160s -0.33ev 1600iso |
Jun 14, 2021 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 21mm MOVO for Nikon 1, Butterflies, Daily Image 2021, Flowers, Macro Flowers & Butterflies, Nikon 1 V3
Macro Flowers & Butterflies | Leap of Hope What’s next in this butterflies life? Still, the eyes have the image. For more images, see Peck Butterfly House | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story A visit to Peck’s Butterfly House always delights. You never know what kind of image you might be able to capture.
Details…
Event | Visit to Peck’s Butterfly House |
Location | Northern Illinois |
Date/Time | 9/02/2020 2:50 pm Local Time |
Weather | Cloudy | 71°F | Light Winds |
Method | Time and patience are required to focus. |
Gear | Nikon 1 V3 with a 30-110mm lens and 21mm extension tube |
Jun 12, 2021 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 21mm MOVO for Nikon 1, Butterflies, Daily Image 2021, Flowers, Macro Flowers & Butterflies, Nikon 1 V3
Macro Flowers & Butterflies | Lunch Break It may be a break from lunching. Still, the eyes have the image. For more images, see Peck Butterfly House | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story A late lunch zoom break leads to a visit to Peck’s Butterfly House.
Details…
Event | Visit to Peck’s Butterfly House |
Location | Northern Illinois |
Date/Time | 9/02/2020 2:34 pm Local Time |
Weather | Cloudy | 71°F | Light Winds |
Method | Time and patience are required to focus. |
Gear | Nikon 1 V3 with a 30-110mm lens and 21mm extension tube |
Jun 10, 2021 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 21mm MOVO for Nikon 1, Bee, Daily Image 2021, Flowers, Macro Flowers & Butterflies, Nikon 1 V3
Macro Flowers & Butterflies | Monarch Lunch Monarch butterflies are native to North America with additional populations in Hawaii, Portugal, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand. It has a lifespan of six to eight months. Its wingspan measures 3.7 to 4.1 inches. Monarch Butterflies are not as plentiful as they once were. They have declined by around 90% in the last three decades due to the disappearance of milkweed plants. They need milkweed plants to complete their life cycle. Unfortunately, the milkweed population has been decreasing for a number of years. Female monarchs only lay eggs on milkweed plants since monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed. The milkweed plant provides both food and shelter for a caterpillar. After emerging, the adult Monarch eats nectar from a variety of flowering plants. For more images, see Peck Butterfly House | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story Capturing nice butterfly images at the Peck Butterfly House requires time and patience. The butterflies don’t sit still for long. Even though they are in an enclosed space, they don’t just pose for a photograph.
Details…
Event | Visit to Peck’s Butterfly House |
Location | Northern Illinois |
Date/Time | 9/02/2020 2:47 pm Local Time |
Weather | Partly Cloudy | 86°F | Moderate Winds |
Method | Time and patience are required to focus. |
Gear | Nikon 1 V3 with a 30-110mm lens and 21mm extension tube |
Jun 9, 2021 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 21mm MOVO for Nikon 1, Bee, Daily Image 2021, Flowers, Macro Flowers & Butterflies, Nikon 1 V3
Macro Flowers & Butterflies | Thistle Bee Some varieties of thistles grow tall in these parts. Bees love them.
The Back Story After leaving the Peck Butterfly House, a short hike around the grounds turned up a few nice images. For more images, see Peck Butterfly House | a 7 Image Story.
Details…
Event | Visit to Peck’s Butterfly House |
Location | Northern Illinois |
Date/Time | 8/29/2020 2:46 pm Local Time |
Weather | Partly Cloudy | 82°F | Moderate Winds |
Method | Time and patience are required to focus. |
Gear | Nikon 1 V3 with a 30-110mm lens and 21mm extension tube |