I saw the thumbnail and thought humph, I hit download and my mind was blown! The clear detail in the wings is totally awesome. Job well done.

You always have great work on display but this series really appeals to the artistic side of me. Thank you

I have been enjoying your flower and butterfly shots for a out a year now. I must say your photos are of e cellent quality, well composed, and plentiful. This butterfly really struck a note with me. Thank you for all your photo sharing.

I hope you didn't get to close to it. It looks lime a snapping turle from a nearby body of water. One snap may have taken a finger from you. Great shots of natures lesser loved creatures.

I really like #3. the dark floaters in front of the blazing clouds really adds depth. thanks for sharing.

google Dale Chihuly to see some beautiful instalations like the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas that has 40,000 lb. of glass in a ceiling instalation covering 2,000 Sq ft..just one of many to be found around the world.

Wonderful shots! Chihuly is a master of the art. The intricacy of his hanging installations is mid boggling. The floating installations are magical. Thanks for the shots. I have not seen any of his recent work.

Nice shot of a bee moth.focus is great with nice depth of field. Especially like the highlights on left wing. I have seen a few in southern Illinois but not many. Great job

Great captures. The heron and dragonfly are exceptional, the silhouetted grass is wall worthy. Grandma and grand daughter look like two peas of a pod. Thank you for sharing

I like the tangle of limbs in the first shot. It gives a graphic appeal to the capture. I would play around with cropping up to half of the fight hand branch and a bit of the top to remove some of the black space from the frame( though the balance isn't bad). I just prefer having the main subject off center in the frame. I can't argue with the impact of the cropped portrait of your hawk it has nice impact. Have fun playing with a great image.

looks like a variety of sedum.

sounds like an awsome church. the weather is not going to be to good this weekend. garden of the god's is an out 60 mile east of carbondale
roughly 1.5 hours a bit less I think, if you drive like I do. there are better rock formations there. if you go, cave in rock is on the river s.e. of there.

as for rock formations that can be included in a south facing shot, garden of the Gods, camel rock from the upper trail comes to mind. these parks are heavily forested on top of and below the formations so careful scouting would be in order. not many outcroppings in the arches national park class. good luck.

I live 15 to 20 miles away and grew up there. the longest trail through the streets of giant city has several photo ops. with bluffs, trees, and woodland vistas. don't forget to climb to the top of fat man's squeeze, a Cleft in the corner of the city steets. many years ago I could get through the big Crack but not so much these days. devils stand table is right off the loop on the main drive. stop at the lodge for maps, lunch, and a climb up the water tower. You may consider a side trip to Fern Cliff State Park south of goreville Illinois , or Garden of the Gods state park south east of harrisburg illinois, alot of bluffs and rock formations. the Shawnee Wine Trail is a nice days adventure covering much scenic land south of carbondale around makanda, alto pass, cobden etc. Near alto is a 100 foot cross that stands on bald knob. there is a sunrise service there this sunday. Google the parks and you will find directions to all.