Sunday, December 27, 2020

"Moonrise over Holla Bend (b&w)"


 

An adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) monitors the field for prey as the moon rises over Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge.  The Bald Eagle can be seen near the top of the tree in the foreground.

Photo # IM5_6447abw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

"Unabandoned Trees"...




This old homestead was once abandoned, but one may argue that the trees haven't. They are still active in watching over this home. Imagine the stories these trees could tell.

Near Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Photo # K01_3454_00001bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp

Sunday, December 13, 2020

3-Dew



Due to the intricacy of this spider web covered in morning dew, one can see many shapes and figures in this maze of water. One could see a vintage sailing ship. With the addition of dew, you can see the many dimensions of the spider web, hence the 3-D Dew title.
Comments welcome.


Photo # K01_9339-9340bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Hover Mating

It takes patience and timing to successfully photograph a macro of a hover fly, especially while landed.  Multiply the odds to actually catch two mating.  I don't think I've shared this photo yet. I photographed this in 2010.

About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Hoverflies are harmless to most other animals, despite their mimicry of stinging wasps and bees, a mimicry which serves to ward off predators.

Photo # 101016_KS10183.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.


 

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

"Peaceful Motion"...

"Peaceful Motion"

A Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) hovers briefly as if to give a graceful gesture.

Central Arkansas, November, 2020.
Photo # K01_9233_00001bw1.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.



Thursday, November 12, 2020

Red-winged Flight

 "Red-winged Flight"

One look at this photograph and it's apparent that you're looking at a flock of red-winged blackbirds. It's amazing that this quantity of birds can fly without hurting each other.

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas, 2008.
Photo # 8113_KS10200.
(c) Kelly Shipp


Saturday, November 7, 2020

 "Golden Leaves"

Each leaf has it's own story. Each leaf is unique.
This photograph was taken on the forest floor, central Arkansas.
Nothing was posed in this photograph.

Photo # K01_8059_00001bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography


Tuesday, October 20, 2020


 

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Sometimes the sun and clouds can mix to become something anew.
This panorama shows the beauty at sunset over Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas.
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Photo # KSA_6827-31.<BR>
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Friday, October 9, 2020

"Crescent Wings"...



The Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterfly has small white crescent moon on the underside of the fore wing, as seen in this photograph. Another identifier is each black-and-white banded antenna ends in an orange club or ball. Their wing span is about 1-1/4 inches.

Photo # K01_7766_00001.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Saturday, October 3, 2020

"Abandoned Dress"


 

Inside the central hall closet of an abandoned homestead hangs this dress. Notice the design of the wallpaper. My great-grandfather helped build a nearby store for the ladies that lived in this house. As typical of the early 1900's, the largest room in this house was the kitchen.

Lafayette county, southwest Arkansas.
Photo # IM3_9023a.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography


Saturday, September 19, 2020


 

 "A Dash of Red"
This Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) is a medium-sized hawk with broad, rounded wings as with most from the Buteo genus. It is know for it's splash of red on it's shoulders and a hint of color in its tail. Females can have a wingspan up to 50 inches, but only weigh up to 2 lbs. This species is monogamous and territorial. Depending on the habitat, this hawk preys mostly on snakes, frogs, insects and mice. I have also witnessed this species hunting fish successfully.

(c) Kelly Shipp Photography
Photo # KS3_1224c.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

"Bath on the Rocks"...




A female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) takes a bath in a bed of rocks.

Photo # KS9_2573c2. July, 2016.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Saturday, August 29, 2020

"Colors and Textures"...




This is how one of my dad's livestock trailers would sit in the field. It's not often that we look around us and see all the colors and textures, whether it's the trees, flowers, grasses, or personality "rust and dirt" on equipment we use.
Most farmers would look at this trailer and say, "ah, it's just broke-in good".  A little wear-and-tear shows it can survive.  We humans aren't that different. A little wear-and-tear also shows that we can survive.


Photo # KSA_2107_1-2115c.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography, 2017.

Monday, August 24, 2020

"Tonal Textures"

The blades of grasses in this photograph suggest random, tonal arrangements of musical notes, yet the contrast in textures suggest there's more to these plants, and nature, than meets the eye.
Comments welcome.

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas, 2019.
Photo # K01_6210--11cnr3b.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Monday, August 17, 2020

"Time - let it flow"...



Why do we always try to control it, define it, limit it to fit our schedules? We often want either less of it or more of it. Maybe we should let it flow through our lives and simply make the best of it. If we let it flow, it'll blur the fine lines and overlap into others, so let it flow and enjoy the ride.

Abstract of a forest.
Another from my series of abstract, infrared photographs.
Photo # IM5_5170-71bw. Central Arkansas, 2019.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Sunday, August 16, 2020

 

 A Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) is a butterfly very similar to the Monarch but is smaller and has subtle differences. Primarily, they have distinct black lines perpendicular to the other black lines on the hindwings. Another notable difference is that the Viceroy doesn't migrate, which the Monarch is popular for. The flight pattern is  also slightly different between the two species.
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Infrared photograph, 2018.<BR>
Photo # IM5_4611bw.<BR>
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

Thursday, August 6, 2020

The White-tailed Buck


The White-tailed buck, Odocoileus virginianus, has a strong stance. An adult buck can stand 4-feet at the shoulders and can average 150 lbs. Here are some interesting facts. Deer antlers fall off once a year, while cattle horns grow year-round. Antlers are the fastest growing known bone tissue on earth. Studies show that their vision is dichromatic (two photopigment types, allowing them to see in shades of blue and yellow), not seeing reds or oranges as well, making them more sensitive to blue colors. This is another benefit of them feeding early & late in the day, when the light is more blue. Their sight is also more sensitive to UV light. They have extremely sensitive Olfactory (small nerve) receptor cells throughout their nose, some studies showing they have a total of 300 million cells, 80 million more cells than dogs. White-tailed deer are the state animal of 9 states.

(c) Kelly Shipp Photography. Photo # 200699_KS10195. Sept, 2006.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

"The Pattern of Spots"...


White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, typically birth 1-3 fawns. The white spots help camouflage them. They can walk after birth and can follow the mother foraging for food a few days later. The underside of the tail is white, which serves not only as a 'flag' when alarmed but also allows fawns to easily follow a mother when running. They can run up to 30 mph and can swim.

Summer, 2006, central Arkansas.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Monday, July 20, 2020

"Wall of Falls"...


This is one of my favorite, hidden places at Petit Jean State Park. Cascading waterfalls are such a treat. The sound is such a high level that you become mesmerized, surrounded by it yet part of it. You find yourself immersed as if it were a quiet sunset.

Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas. November, 2007.
Photo # 200711_KS10191bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Traces of Life...


There are moments in life when we encounter something that causes us to pause. These moments often cause us to reflect on life, whether current or past, providing a perspective or insight of appreciation which reaches in and touches our soul. What's often interesting is that in these moments, the feelings that enters our spirits aren't brash, fast, hard, or abrupt. They often come as a fresh breeze, light as a feather, welcomed as if walking through an open door. Here's to more moments of calm, light breezes of our souls.

Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area, central Arkansas.
Photo # IMG_7443bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

Sunday, June 7, 2020

"928 Lines & Shadows"...


The 1991 Porsche 928S4. This is from a series several years ago.

Photo # KS2_9651.
(c) Kelly Shipp.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Porsche 911T...


The simplicity of the 1968 Porsche 911T.

Photo # K01_4899_00001cbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

Thursday, April 30, 2020

"It's a Small World"...


Nature surround us - big and small. This small section of a forest floor includes a blend of small waterfalls, rocks, grass, lichen, and flowers yet to bloom. If you explore this photograph, you may see a tiny waterfall near center-left.

Photo # K01_7045_00001bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Small Wonders...


It doesn't take much light to conquer the darkness. The smallest of positive light can make a difference. This small wildflower is barely an inch off the ground, surrounded by blades of grass much taller than itself, yet it outshines the rest.

Photo # K01_6905_00001bws2a.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Monday, April 6, 2020

"Beyond Prime"...


Seasons come and go, but beauty endures. With petals the size of an ant, this tiny flower continues to show it's beauty regardless of size, color, shape, or age (season). Beauty continues to exist beneath all the colors and textures our senses can experience. What we consider as prime may be only the beginning of our experience.

Photo # K01_5384_00001. December, 2019.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

"Snow Perch"...


A male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) pauses on a snow-covered branch.

Photo # KS5_1789a. Feb, 2014.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

"Harmony"...


For some grace means elegance and beauty of movement. In Greek mythology, it was a favorite subject for sculptors. However you prefer to define it, this photograph of a Trumpeter Swan shows elegance and form in perfect harmony.

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
Heber Springs, AR. Jan, 2014.
Photo # KS4_6431bw.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

"Blurring the Lines"...


Nature is forever changing. If we were to speed up the change, it would be a blur. This is why we need to slow down to view the detail before it all becomes a blur.

Abstract of a forest.
Another from my series of abstract photographs.
Photo # IM5_5232as2. 2019.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

Monday, January 13, 2020

"When Light Shines Through"...


Why is light so beautiful when it shines through darkness?
This photograph shows many dimensions of light and clouds. Hope you enjoy.

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas. December, 2019.
Photo # IM5_5320cbws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.