What mere mortals may assume as chaos, these red-winged blackbirds actually have organized flight patterns, despite how this slow exposure photograph represents these winged creatures in flight.
Red-winged Blackbirds.
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # KSA_6162.
(c) Kelly Shipp
This is another from my series of Paul V. from Madison County.
In this photograph, Paul V. is holding a hand-made Mandolin that he is making from a turtle shell. He has a number of these hand-made instrument projects around his shop. I really like the natural light that's coming from his shop windows.
Paul V.
Madison County, Arkansas.
Photo # K03_3435cbw_sq.
"Nowata Church of God in Christ"
As most of you know, I have a passion for photographing old homesteads, places, churches, schools, etc. I hope to photograph them before they fall victim to the weather or other reasons.
This church was built around 1915 and abandoned around 1999. It was constructed as the Second Missionary Baptist Church for the growing African American community in Nowata. Over the years, the church has changed names.
I was able to speak with those who went to church there as kids and also own adjacent property. They had hoped to have saved the church once it was abandoned, but it's too far gone now.
Nowata, Oklahoma.
Photo # IM7_4248-56bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp.
The juxtaposition of the tree line (with cattle) and the lone tree on the right seemed to balance the photograph with the truck between them. If the truck could talk...
1960's International Harvester BC-170 Truck.
Photo # IM7_4285-89bwm2.
(c) Kelly Shipp
The Gulf fritillary or passion butterfly is a striking, medium-sized butterfly. I was fortunate to get to photograph several of these over a long period recently, and I have the sunburn to prove it. (ha)
With many attempts, including this one, I tried to capture each side of the wings in a single frame, so you can easily see how stunning it is on both the dorsal (top) view and ventral (underside) view. The top view is a deep orange with black streaks, with the underside an amazing mix of colors and white spots. The top view has many cool facets that I will explain in more detail on future photographs, where I have captured more awesome detail.
Gulf fritillary (Dione vanillae).
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # DSCF5980c16x9.
(c) Kelly Shipp
I like how these trees seem to create a fork in the path, as if there's a path to the right that is inviting, but also that begs the question, what about left?
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # DSCF5785bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp
The Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) is a stunning creature. If you can catch the sunlight on their wings, they become a spectacular deep orange. The white spots are mesmerizing as you look more closely. It's always a treat to photograph these creatures.
The Queen is a moderately large butterfly, with an average wingspan of approx. 3.2 inches. It is easily distinguishable from its relative the monarch by its darker brown ground color, and lack of stripes decorating the wings. It possesses a very tough and flexible chitinous exoskeleton, unlike most other butterflies. I'll be sharing more photos that depict this detail.
Taxonomy: The Queen is a member of the genus Danaus, which includes D. plexippus (monarch) and D. eresimus (soldier). It is of the family Nymphalidae of the order Lepidoptera. There are as many as eleven subspecies recognized.
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # K05_7851_16x9c.
(c) Kelly Shipp
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