Category: Travel and Adventure

Garden Fish Pond

By livelifeandlove on May 7, 2012

It’s summertime and the the long vacation gave me the chance to practice test shooting again.It’s photography, writing, cooking, and gardening that keeps me busy nowadays.I’m glad,I get to do these things in my free time.I’ve been doing photography for quiet 5 years now and I can honestly say,I’ve improved a lot.Lately,I took a shot of a beautiful garden fish pond in Taiwan.I was inspired to post it here today!

The pond water was so clear that you can clearly see the Koi fish deep down there. The Koi fish color and pattern is very attractive. Some Fishes has a beautiful and unique color combination,just like a tatoo designs.You can also see the reflection of the tall trees in the water.

I was told, before the fish pond were made, It was a dry and empty field.Now, it was a well developed architectural garden with trimmed and flowering plants located in the center of the city. It was a good experience to document something that will make you remember your previous trip. My journey will continue, and I will post more beautiful and interesting photos for you!

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Wild Flower- Muntingia Calabura

By livelifeandlove on May 3, 2012

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This is a typical kind of wild flower called, Aratiles or Muntingia Calabura and the favorite of the bees. A very small flower but, looks so beautiful and attractive.

Here in the Philippines, We call it Aratiles flower but,according to my research, it came out to be very different.The fruit looks almost the same with the aratiles fruit I’ve seen in the book but, the leaves looks different from the rest of sample pictures. I’m just curious about it!

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Beautiful Tree

By livelifeandlove on May 2, 2012

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This beautiful tree caught my attention and made an immediate stop on my way. Although, it was an old tree as you can see the large trunk but,it was cleanly cut and well-trimmed.How wonderful to see a well shaped tree,looks natural.I don’t know how old is this tree. It looks like a beautiful bonsai tree. This was taken in Taiwan last month. It seems, I’m not only an insect hunter,I’m also a plant hunter now.

Complete Movement of Bees Pollinating a Flower

By livelifeandlove on April 30, 2012

This is the continuation of the first 3 posts I’ve posted earlier,it’s all about bees as an ”agent of pollination.’‘ Although it’s similar with the previous one, Oh well, actually, I’m curious on how they pollinate and how fast they move.I’ve photographed entirely the complete and exact movement, as well as body parts. What I have here is the step-by-step and continous movement of bees upon pollination. Let’s get started!

(Click on images to view larger)

The first step, A honey bee approaching the white flower.

It’s just a curiosity, I want to know time consumed upon pollinating.

The right foreleg landed first before the middle and the hind legs. Without using ant tripod to shoot. I’ve moved my camera quietly and slowly.I don’t want to distract the bees movement.

The honeybee is now on top.

The honeybee close-up. You can clearly view here the 2 forelegs is now closely attached holding the anther of a flower. The clear view of the bee’s body parts; antennae,compound eyes is shiny black, head is triangular in shape,proboscis, foreleg and middle leg, ocelli and the black thorax.

This is the back view.

The 2 forelegs bringing the anther closely to its jaw. The bee has 2 antennaes, you can simply see it here. Body parts covered with hair.

The balancing act while sipping the nectar. This is how a bee maintain the right balance on the air. This is just based upon my observation and the photo itself will show you what I’m describing.

It really shows here, the foreleg and the middle leg each holding the anther.The hindlegs maintain to keep the balance.

A bit closer to get a full and clear view.The abdomen have curled a little bit.

The proboscis is very clear in the picture. The bee is now very busy sipping the nectar of this flower.It took only a second for a bee to pollinate a small flower.

It’s now the turn of the hindlegs to get the anthers.

Pushing even more deeper downward. but, where’s the stinger?

I’m swinging my camera to the left and to the right to get a sharp focus.

This is the final part of pollination.After sipping the nectar of this flower, the bee flew to another flower. It’s really a busy bee! I have learned a lot from these bees. I have exerted more effort focusing downward,upward, bending, and twisting. It’s really tough to photograph a flying insect, it keeps on changing directions every time.Never mind about the noisy buzz and the sting, I’m doing my part to cover a very interesting subject of science.

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Yellow Butterfly Pollinates a Small Flower

By livelifeandlove on April 26, 2012

I’m about to snap a flying bee, and this beautiful yellow butterfly landed unexpectedly in front of me. What a sudden surprise! A beautiful yellow butterfly has the power to stop me photographing the previous subject. Instead of bees, my attention was into a butterfly. I was scared to missed the beautiful sight! It caught my attention, and took a snap right away.

For more than a week now, I’ve been very busy photographing agents of pollination like; honeybees, butterflies, and other garden insects. The good thing about it? I’ve learned a lot from these garden insects. I will continue to capture more interesting photos of insects in the garden.

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

The Bee and the Flower

By livelifeandlove on April 20, 2012

I spent every minute of my time photographing the bees while pollinating the flowers.All my attention was completely glued in photographing these interesting subject of science.Yesterday, I was disappointed,only two photos of bees made it. Other photos not so clear and some blurry. Today, I want to accomplish something,anything to photograph the same subject for the second time around.(Click on image to view larger)

But first of all, I want to identify these kind of garden bees. According to my research, this is a honeybee. It was small with a body color combination of yellow and brown stripes. Upon photographing, I have observed the way they behave and the way they transfer from one flower to another. They actively moves so fast. It took only 2-3 seconds to pollinate a small flower and there after, they will come back to pollinate the same flower again.I cannot even count how many times they come and go.

o far, I was satisfied with the result of my photography,it turned out better than expected. You could be more excited to see the macro shots. I’m using macro to make shooting more easier but, it was a tough close-up shot. The good thing about macro,the smaller image becomes larger. You can even view completely the full body parts of a bee.

I feel so tired using one hand to shoot, making another hand free to move and to make a quick blow in case a bee landed on my face. I feel uncomfortable holding it.My morning ended with the bees. It was an interesting subject. I will continue to post more bee photos and a video of the bees while pollinating the flowers next post.

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Bee Pollinating a Flower

By livelifeandlove on April 14, 2012

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I was walking around in the garden and suddenly, I saw a bee pollinating a flower. I Immediately took my camera and snap! It only took a few seconds for a bee to pollinate this little flower. It was tough to photograph a movable bee, it doesn’t keep still. I was holding my camera with a single hand, and one bee landed on my hand. My blood runs cold. I thought,I’m having a heart attack! I didn’t make any move and just a quiet pause until the bee flew away.I felt so much better after that. Whew!What a relief! I took a few shots but,only one came out to be good. Anyway, I was inspired to post the only image here and, I will snap for more tomorrow. Today was just a timely morning visit in the garden.

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Flowering Bulbs

By livelifeandlove on April 13, 2012

It’s a morning routine to take a walk through the garden garden and check what’s new! It gives me the welcome feeling of coolness and spaciousness. My frequent visitors around; bees,caterpillars, butterflies, and humming birds.Today is a big surprise! A multi flowers blooming and waving gracefully following the direction of the wind. Don’t forget to click on images to view larger.

Scadoxus multiflorus.This is a flowering bulb actively growing underground that blooms only once a year.It’s a summer bloomer! Bringing a new bloom in the garden creates a mystic feeling.

It’s summertime,this is clearly the season to do some serious looking and caring in the garden.I prefer a garden that looks natural although, my garden is not that big enough to plant other varieties of flowering plants. I’m planning to expand in order to create more spaces for other garden accents. It needs a little renovation in the patio. It requires a shade to block the direct sunlight, to protect the existing plants which is too sensitive to sunlight.For the plants, I prefer flowering plants with a minimum maintenance and a tree to create a shade for a purpose. This summer is the time to what needs to be done in the garden.I love all kinds of flowering plants as long as it looks attractive and the flowers quite beautiful.

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Cloud Landscape

By livelifeandlove on April 4, 2012

Shooting the clouds is an inspiration.You can see the sunlight details and aerial view of the entire surroundings. What a panoramic view! The cloud landscape shown here was all taken moments before mid afternoon. You can just imagine the intense sunlight upon shooting below.It was a great deal of determination. It seems the clouds within my reach, and reachable.

Summer time is the best time to shoot any subject. Hopefully, I can take more snapshots of cloud landscape. It is also best to view the bright clouds along the way going to the countryside. I’m collecting beautiful photos of different landscapes in and out of the city. It’s just a matter of time, 2 weeks or less. Come again and view for more.

Oyster Reef

By livelifeandlove on March 19, 2012

All kinds of shellfish are found here,The most impressive is the oyster reefs. I was amazed to see the oysters bed still undisturbed.It covers entirely the surface of the rocks closely related with.This shot was taken in Pangasinan Island during the harvesting season of oysters.The Hundreds Island of Pangasinan.A tourist attraction and a National Park. It is located in the Northern part of the Philippines.

Assorted seashells and shellfish.This is what you call ”The freshness of life,”definitely, it adds life. All kinds of fresh shellfish; oysters,mussels, cockles,wrinkles,scallops,and clams are found in this place.The lovely seashore is worth remembering, not to mention all kinds of deep water creatures found here.It is abundant in this area.(Don’t forget to click on images to view larger)

Walking around the seashore, you can spot different sea creatures.They are still alive here. If you can only smell the freshness. Mid-afternoon, nevermind the heat of the sun, the abundance of oysters and mussels compensates.You can even eat, get and bring home all you can.

The presence of starfish is also abundant here. This starfish is still alive.It was rough and spiky.

The presence of some crustaceans are found when least expected. Surprisingly awesome!

The panoramic view of the beach. How enjoyable to walk barefoot along the seashore.

Oyster lovers like this beautiful spot.The rocks where the oysters live is a great sight.

It’s getting darker around here but, you can view the colorful corals on the rocks.

This is a good timing considering the presence of seashells,panoramic view of the beach, and the stunning sunset.The sun is about to set. so, my next blog would be the romantic setting of the sunset along the seashore of the Island.The continuation of this article. I hope you enjoyed viewing this beauty of nature. Come back to view the lovely sunset next post.

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