Upon a subject entering my field of view I immediately take a couple of photos for at least identification later on. Then I start walking, slowly, pausing to take photos as I move toward the subject. I have two main goals during my approach. Keep improving the composition (usually using the rule of thirds) while being mindful of the background, and to get perfectly parallel with the subject. Why parallel?
The goal of getting perfectly parallel with the subject is to capture a sharp image of the complete subject, head to tail in the example of this Northern Cardinal. In this photo, the subject fled before I could get into position. That is usually the case. As you can see, the head is in focus, the tail is not. Acceptable focus lies on a narrow plane and the amount of blur increases as the distance increases in front of and in back of that narrow plane. Less than an inch as in this photo of the cardinal. Keep in mind, the plane of acceptable focus narrows the closer you get to the subject. There is a lot of dynamics in photography.
Subject: Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Location: Casas Adobes, Tucson, Arizona
#backyardphotography #backyardbirds #backyardbirding
Vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus obscurus)
Location: Sonoita Creek (near east end of lake), Arizona
#patagonialakestatepark #patagonialake #birdingarizona #arizonabirds #arizonabirding
A Black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata). This one is about six inches, wing tip to wing tip.
#moths #mothsandbutterflies
I ran across this image while searching the archives. The beautiful Claret Cup cactus in bloom. Captured at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
#claretcup #claretcupcactus #cactusflowers #cactuslovers
This tiny little guy has a common name of Bee fly. This one in the family Bombyliidae. They are found on every continent. You`ll find them darting among the flowers in your garden, then hovering over a flower before landing. Adults feed on nectar and are important pollinators. The larvae are known to be parasitic. Caterpillars are a favorite target and the Bee fly helps to keep the populations in check. Look for these good guys in your garden.
#macrophotography #backyardphotography
Dried milkweed seed pods.
#blackandwhiteflowerphotography #blackandwhiteflowers #blackandwhitewednesday
A juvenile Lucy`s Warbler (Leiothlypis luciae) contemplates my presence from its perch on a Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata).
#backyardbirding #backyardphotography #lucyswarbler
Backyard trail camera capture of coyote pup.
#backyardwildlife #tucsonwildlife #backyardphotography #sepia #splittone #colorized
Coenonympha california subfusca (White Mountains Ringlet)
Location: Government Springs Trail. Greer, Arizona
Capture Date: June 17, 2026
#coenonympha #butterfly #butterflies #butterflyphotography #butterfliesofinstagram #whitemountainsaz
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#minimalistphotography #minimalistphotos #bnw
#blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhitephoto #blackandwhitephotos
Taking a break from the posting of birds and butterflies to featuring this cute little guy, a Syrphid Fly (Copestylum marginatum). You will find these important pollinators hovering around flowers. Syrphid Fly larvae are voracious predators of aphids and other pests. They`re good to have around.
#insectphotography #backyardgarden #backyardwildlife #backyardgardening #insectlovers
Weidemeyer`s admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii)
Location: Government Springs Trail. Greer, Arizona.
Capture Date: June 17, 2026
#butterfly #butterflys #butterflyphotography
Northwestern Fritillary (Argynnis nausicaa nausicaa)
Location: Near Greer, in the White Mountains of Eastern Arizona.
Capture Date: June 17, 2026
#butterflies #fritillarybutterfly #fritillaries #brushfootedbutterfly
I failed to photograph the Coppery-tailed trogon, but I did capture a Sulphur-bellied flycatcher in flight on a recent trip to Madera Canyon, Arizona. I don`t think that is a bad trade-off.
#maderacanyonaz #maderacanyon #sulphurbelliedflycatcher #birdsinflight #birdingarizona #birdsofarizona #wildlifephotography
