Astonishingly sharp, the seascape sunset taken during my trip to Ilocos, the best sunset I’ve ever seen in the Province of Ilocos Norte. I never leave a beautiful landscape without capturing the sunset, it’s just like a thing I can’t live without, missing to shoot it? It’s just like losing a bestfriend.
A very beautiful sun setting in the evening, the glowing radiance of orange, red, purple, pink, yellow and blue with the splashing sunlit reflections from the water brings interesting foreground and background details. Communicating with the beauty of nature and capturing sunset great moments as it descend below western horizon at the end of the day is truly perfection.
I have captured these photos at SM Mall of Asia bayside, it was the last Saturday of ”Philippine International Pyromusical Competition 2018, the whole area was jam-packed with people of all ages and different nationalities, the flow of noisy conversation from people around was so terrible but it’s all worth to be there. This is the only time for me to capture and enjoy two interesting subjects same day; the sunset beforehand and fireworks at the end.
More sunset photos taken before sundown
It’s summertime therefore it’s photography time so expect more beautiful sunset photos…
Anyone interested to beautify their own surroundings should consider a good promising looking plant with fascinating flowers like Hibiscus, it seems to be back in fashion nowadays. I’ve seen them around; in house gardens and public parks. It’s a good stunning display outdoors. A huge stone pots of Hibiscus lined along the sitting area of commercial establishments nearby, it’s the perfect choice for the gardeners as it blends effectively with other flowers.
As majority of plants are sun lovers, Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis among one, they prefer a direct bright sunlight and cool night temperature, an easy choice for the landscapers. Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis or Gumamela glossy evergreen foliage shrubs up to more than 14 feet tall, flowers can be single or double with a flaring bell petals and distinctive column of yellow stamens, other varieties has ruffled thin petals that resembles the Maple flower. It is available in wide range of varieties and colors; purple, bright red, orange, fuchsia, white, hot pink, vivid pink, deep orange, reddish-purple, reddish-orange, peach, yellow, yellowish-pink and reddish-white spotted 2 color combinations.
Down there, the 20 pictures of Double Flowering Rosa Sinensis illustrate the various colors of Hibiscus, all colors are cheerfully attractive, it provides me the opportunity to photograph it the same day before flowering ends. Is gardening effort effective? How can you keep the flowers if it’s only a day bloomers? Just a bit effort from me to document it, these pictures serves as an evidence of a successful gardening.
Some of my favorite subjects to capture are the birds, bees and butterflies. Among other specific groups, how can you get closer to the subject? Winged insects and animals are the most challenging subjects to take because they have hyperactive wings, they cannot keep still. Another thing to consider is the shooting location with the weather as it plays a very important role. August is a rainy month and the temperature changes from time to time, greatly affected by the weather, outdoor photography is hard whether to go ahead with your plans for the day or not. I simply waited for a good timing that sunny day will greet me with a smile.
Among my favorite location to shoot, one is the Rainforest Park conveniently located nearby. Little did I know, it’s equally good to take pictures of other interesting subjects of flora and fauna just about anywhere here, this vast landscape offers beautiful scenery to take so, Here it goes, butterflies would be the first to consider before other subjects.
Photography side, what I want to avoid if ever, when a butterfly picture in a set is taken with the same kind of flowers are particularly noticeable, it looks boring. It would be better to shift into different contexts, I’ve found some of my snapshots lately repeating the same manner, Daaa! In search of butterfly photos? There is something for you here. Ok Folks ! Happy Viewing! Lets get started!
The first photo shows a Monarch butterfly hanging upside down position is a rare chance to get. What a good timing! I don’t want to lose this opportunity, I’m avoiding quick movements moving slow motion. Like most winged insects, most of the time they flew away before I have had a chance to take. Patience to wait is the name of the game!
Having a hard time to focus my camera, how I wish I can approach them but how can I? With a variety of butterflies around, I’m rushing to snap the Monarch first.
At times, I waited for a quick stop even for just a second but seems hard to wait, I just stand-by to where I expect them to land. I’m sure they will come to pollinate the same flower again..
The green butterfly
The only problem here is the sunlit area, other areas shows low light in hazy afternoon calling for flash to some areas, it calls to brighten the dark shadows.
Mid-afternoon is the best time to snap butterflies, seems they are more friendly if tired so, it’s easier to snap and to this time, you can always expect where butterflies are.
Graceful landing!
The yellow butterfly
Butterflies in flight is very difficult to photograph but not necessarily best photographed in flight. just a serious try!
My 2nd shot for the upside down position.
Flying upward position.
A happy surprise! Two butterflies together pollinating one flower.
Stunning poise!
2 Butterflies lined up on the same stem of Maidenhair fern.
Black butterfly with large wings spread-out
I could go more into details but photos will give you a clearer view before my words. Good focus should be given a good consideration as I simply go for quality rather than quantity. Higher blurry rate gives frustration but good result is worth rewarding. Most of the photos that was published previously was taken from faraway island haunts but stunning photos of today are best featured for you.
Bearing a heavy crop of beautiful flowers in clusters sometimes, carrying many flowers on one stem alone, these flowering plants live in a dry climate however, manage to survive even during rainy season. This is a good example of plants that can easily adopt themselves to the climate and a good specimen for beautification.
Summer growth flowers are produced abundantly as shown here that’s why I’m closing close track of the flowers thinking that when flowering ends, seeds are being released and ready to be collected. The next step is to dry the seeds for a week or two and plant them, one month after, it will give lushness of the surroundings.
Following a successful progress and development, it is a home of exclusive lifestyles. For many years now or decades have been the favorite vacation destination, the cool climate and from the distance overlooking the high mountains and vast vegetation is always a hazy horizon. If you live in this area, distinctive cultural and peaceful life will begin to prosper.
I took this photo from a shelter of Innova to keep myself cool from hot day. Fresh looking greenery makes the scene landscape spectacular from a distance. The beautiful slopes leading the eyes down to the white house and direction of natural light at the left side. Peaceful- lonely mood with subtle beauty to feel inside…
Hibiscus or Gumamela flowers a member of mallow family, they need full sun for best bloom production, best in high humidity , they prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade. They bloom lavishly splendid when the sun is up, definitely looks dramatic with the morning sun rays. The good atmosphere will inspire your mood as the shape and colors make the flowers. Other photos previously published was even more stunning with the background of the blue sky.
Inonotus Radiatus Mushrooms
Fungi attacking dead woods, Inonotus Radiatus is a hard semicircular mushroom with an alternate row colors of brown and white on a bark of a dead tamarind tree. It looks like a fresh baked crunchy biscuits.
Greek ship submerged in water along the shores of Kish,Iran
The abandoned ship wreck, ”Greek ship called Khoula F. on the shores of Kish,Iran an island resort. This is the remains of the old Greek ship, a 1943 cargo steamship totally breaking apart and it looks like a ghost ship.
Kish Island is a popular tourist attraction and a favorite site for the photographers and visitors visiting the Persian Gulf. Along the shore is a beautiful sunset so with the full view of the ship wreck.
You can view here, clearly shows how they inserted their proboscis through the receptacle of the flower.
Bumblebee, considered as the most stinging bees because of their large size. If you hear the word bees, the first thing that comes into your mind in connection with honey and stinging pain but it is useful to humans because of their honey supply.
Being called as an insect pollinator, they are adopted to the flower of their choice. from the 2nd and 4th photos, you can see the bumblebees tuber-like mouth part(tongue or proboscis) to suck up the nectar of their chosen flowers. The nectar is converted within the bee into honey, pollen is mixed with honey or nectar to make bee bread as food of young bees.
