Butterflies and More Butterflies

I took my first photography workshop last Saturday at Butterfly Wonderland with photographer Lisa Langell.  It was a great experience working with a professional photographer.  She explained things so well and worked one on one with each of us.

After the workshop we got to spend more time in the atrium taking our own photos and practicing what we learned in class.  Time sure fly's when you are having fun I spent another 2 hours after class taking photos.

Below are some of the photos I took from the day.  I don't know all the butterfly names I need to do more research on their names.  Yes there are birds in the atrium also, I know crazy :-)

Enjoy...

American Avocets - Spring is in the Air

I was taking photos at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch on Saturday March 5th.  I sat down at Pond 4 and started to watch the American Avocets.  These are beautiful birds, so elegant and fascinating to watch.

It's getting to be Spring time and their head colors are getting to turn an orange color.  I was watching 6 Avocets and started to take their photos as they went through some kind of ritual. 

Below are some of the shots from that day, enjoy...

 

 

Award Winning and Feature Photos

Not to toot my own horn but I'm going to :-)  I'm keeping track of my awards and photo features so I have them in one place.  I'm creating a resume of my work so this is a great place to start.

2016

Silver Medal - iPhotography Website (May 2016)

Snowy Egret - can't believe I captured the dander and feathers flowing around its body

Bronze Medal - iPhotography Website (May 2016)

Great Blue Heron

 

Silver Medal - iPhotography Website (April 2016)

Curve-billed Thrasher

Winner Viewbug Website - People's Choice in 1 Photo Challenge (April 2016)

Snowy Egret

Finalist of the Arizona Highways 2015-2016 Photo Contest

Snowy Egret

 

Arizona Highways Website - Photo of the Day, March 3, 2016
 

Red-tailed Hawk

 

Arizona Highways Facebook Page - Friday Photo, theme "Red, White & Blue"

Arizona Highways Facebook Page - Friday Photo, theme "Hot"

Arizona Highways Facebook Page - Friday Photo, theme "Rocks"

Arizona Highways Facebook Page - Friday Photo, theme "Wild"
 

Mandarin Duck

Arizona Highways Facebook Page - Friday Photo, theme "Trees"
 

Morning Reflection - Papago Park
 

Gold Medal - iPhotography Website (February 2016)

Reflections in a Mud Puddle

Gila Woodpecker



Birds and Bloom Magazine Website - 2016 Bird Gallery

Black-crowned Night Heron Juvenile

Peach-faced Lovebird

Snowy Egret

Great Blue Heron

Female House Sparrow

Curve-billed Thrasher

Gambel's Quail

American Avocets

Great Egret

European Starling

Burrowing Owl

Lesser Goldfinches

Gila Woodpecker

Snowy Egret

Green Heron

Great-tailed Grackles

 

 

Arizona Highways Facebook Page - Friday Photo, theme "New"

 

Grasshopper molting - Dead Horse Ranch, Cottonwood, AZ

 

Winner Viewbug Website - Water Reflections Photo Challenge (January 2016)

 



 

2015

Winner Viewbug Website - Won People's Choice in Animals in Action Photo Challenge (December 2015)

 

 

 
 

Snowy Egret

 Winner Viewbug Website - Won Staff Winter Selection (December 2015)

Tempe Town Lake

 

Feature Photo of the Week on Bird Watching Magazine Website (November 2015) - (http://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/blog/2015/11/30/photo-of-the-week-snowy-egret/)

 

Snowy Egret



Arizona Highways Facebook Page - Friday Photo, theme "Red" (November 2015)

Mesa Pow Wow

 

Arizona Highways Website - Photo of the Day (November 28, 2015) - https://www.arizonahighways.com/photography/photo-archive

Mesa Pow Wow

Arizona Highways Facebook Page - Friday Photo, theme "Favorite Places in AZ" (November 2015)

Canada Geese 

 Birds and Bloom Magazine Website - 2015 Bird Gallery

Gila Woodpecker

 



Black-necked Stilt