Hello!
Having a bit of spare time the other day, I decided to write a short article for a free-content website. You may view it here http://ezinearticles.com/?Digital-Macro-Photography-in-Nature---A-World-Unseen&id=4471076. You know you want to...
Not entirely sure why I decided to do it, but I like it. I may do some more. Maybe someday someone will even pay me to write something. If you would like to pay me to write something, I may be contacted at...nah, just kidding...or am I?
Cheers!
Kyle
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Website Updates and ID Trivia
Hello!
I have spent some time with the field guide and updated some labels on the photos in my Costa Rica Gallery (http://www.kylehorner.com/costarica.php). I have used common names, but can provide latin names upon request for all you taxonomy nerds (if there are any besides me).
If anyone fancies a taxonomic challenge, I have some still-unidentified species. For each correct ID, I will commend you highly (sorry, no material or financial prizes are available at this time). Here they are:
Some type of Norops anole...
A nifty butterfly...
A cool damselfly
A wicked caterpillar...
Also, if anyone fancies themselves an expert on Costa Rican spiders, we should talk. I'd be happy if they could be identified to family. Check them out in the gallery.
Cheers!
Kyle
I have spent some time with the field guide and updated some labels on the photos in my Costa Rica Gallery (http://www.kylehorner.com/costarica.php). I have used common names, but can provide latin names upon request for all you taxonomy nerds (if there are any besides me).
If anyone fancies a taxonomic challenge, I have some still-unidentified species. For each correct ID, I will commend you highly (sorry, no material or financial prizes are available at this time). Here they are:
Some type of Norops anole...
A nifty butterfly...
A cool damselfly
A wicked caterpillar...
Also, if anyone fancies themselves an expert on Costa Rican spiders, we should talk. I'd be happy if they could be identified to family. Check them out in the gallery.
Cheers!
Kyle
Monday, May 24, 2010
Updates!!
Hello!
I was recently reminded (probed...jabbed...) that I hadn't updated in a while. Fortunately, I finally got out this weekend to do some photography. Kind of a long post, so stick with it! First, Ontario's only lizard:
Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Moving on to the more avian reptiles, some Black-crowned Night-Herons with hilarious hairdos:
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Like many patriotic Canadians, my Victoria Day was spent out looking for herps! The perfect way to spend a holiday. Salamanders were the primary target, and they did not disappoint. It's been suggested that the Red-backed Salamander is Ontario's most common vertebrate, though I'll bet most Ontario residents have never seen one. Too bad, as they are really pretty.
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
The next salamander I came upon is an odd one - a genetic complex of two species. The Jefferson's and Blue-spotted Salamander hybridize (in the least straightforward way conceivable) and are essentially indistinguishable in the field. This has resulted in the two often being referred to collectively as the Jefferson's Complex (great name for an 80's rock band...).
Jefferson's Complex (Ambystoma laterale x jeffersonianum)
When I found my second Ambystoma of the day he had a surprise in store for me. Presumably alarmed at my presence, he lifted his tail in the air and began waving it back and forth. I have never encountered this behaviour before, and am not entirely sure if/how it would deter a predator.
Jefferson's Complex (Ambystoma laterale x jeffersonianum)
When herping, I always manage to find some other interesting creatures. So, here's a couple of bugs I ran into in between salamanders.
Crane Fly (Tipulidae)
Millipede (Diplopoda)
That's all for now, hopefully I get out taking more photos sometime soon!
Kyle
I was recently reminded (probed...jabbed...) that I hadn't updated in a while. Fortunately, I finally got out this weekend to do some photography. Kind of a long post, so stick with it! First, Ontario's only lizard:
Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Moving on to the more avian reptiles, some Black-crowned Night-Herons with hilarious hairdos:
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Like many patriotic Canadians, my Victoria Day was spent out looking for herps! The perfect way to spend a holiday. Salamanders were the primary target, and they did not disappoint. It's been suggested that the Red-backed Salamander is Ontario's most common vertebrate, though I'll bet most Ontario residents have never seen one. Too bad, as they are really pretty.
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
The next salamander I came upon is an odd one - a genetic complex of two species. The Jefferson's and Blue-spotted Salamander hybridize (in the least straightforward way conceivable) and are essentially indistinguishable in the field. This has resulted in the two often being referred to collectively as the Jefferson's Complex (great name for an 80's rock band...).
Jefferson's Complex (Ambystoma laterale x jeffersonianum)
When I found my second Ambystoma of the day he had a surprise in store for me. Presumably alarmed at my presence, he lifted his tail in the air and began waving it back and forth. I have never encountered this behaviour before, and am not entirely sure if/how it would deter a predator.
Jefferson's Complex (Ambystoma laterale x jeffersonianum)
When herping, I always manage to find some other interesting creatures. So, here's a couple of bugs I ran into in between salamanders.
Crane Fly (Tipulidae)
Millipede (Diplopoda)
That's all for now, hopefully I get out taking more photos sometime soon!
Kyle
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Trilliums
Hello!
The near-wintry weather this weekend put a damper on my hoped-for herp-photo outing, but I was eager to get the camera out so I headed over to a nearby spot that I know is rich with Trilliums. It seems to be just the right time of year for these showy flowers, so I thought it'd be fun to play around with them. The strong wind today made framing shots frustrating and slow shutter speeds impossible as the flowers never stop moving! Nonetheless I did end up with a few shots that I am somewhat satisfied with:
Trillium Blanket
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
That's all for now!
Cheers!
Kyle
The near-wintry weather this weekend put a damper on my hoped-for herp-photo outing, but I was eager to get the camera out so I headed over to a nearby spot that I know is rich with Trilliums. It seems to be just the right time of year for these showy flowers, so I thought it'd be fun to play around with them. The strong wind today made framing shots frustrating and slow shutter speeds impossible as the flowers never stop moving! Nonetheless I did end up with a few shots that I am somewhat satisfied with:
Trillium Blanket
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
That's all for now!
Cheers!
Kyle
Sunday, May 2, 2010
I'm Still Here!
Hello!
It has been some time since my last update, but that's mostly because I have been busy moving to my new place in Guelph, Ontario! I am excited to be back in Guelph, and looking forward to using this as my home base for the next while.
This weekend I was fortunate enough to run into some old friends and be invited to join in some herp surveying. I took the camera along, as I've been dying to get out and get shooting. This was the perfect opportunity. One of the first herps we saw (and heard) was the American Toad.
American Toad (Anaxyrus [Bufo] americanus)
Spring is definitely coming in to full swing and it's not just the toads that know it. Marsh Marigold was blooming in huge clusters everywhere.
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
The definite highlight of the day came near the end, when we found a species I have never seen in the wild: the endangered Wood Turtle.
Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)
Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)
All-in-all an excellent day, and hopefully a sign of good things to come!
Cheers!
Kyle
It has been some time since my last update, but that's mostly because I have been busy moving to my new place in Guelph, Ontario! I am excited to be back in Guelph, and looking forward to using this as my home base for the next while.
This weekend I was fortunate enough to run into some old friends and be invited to join in some herp surveying. I took the camera along, as I've been dying to get out and get shooting. This was the perfect opportunity. One of the first herps we saw (and heard) was the American Toad.
American Toad (Anaxyrus [Bufo] americanus)
Spring is definitely coming in to full swing and it's not just the toads that know it. Marsh Marigold was blooming in huge clusters everywhere.
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
The definite highlight of the day came near the end, when we found a species I have never seen in the wild: the endangered Wood Turtle.
Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)
Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)
All-in-all an excellent day, and hopefully a sign of good things to come!
Cheers!
Kyle
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Costa Rica Photos Complete!
Hello!
I finally bore down today and completed my Costa Rica photos. All of my favourites can now be viewed here: http://www.kylehorner.com/costarica.php. Below are a few samples.
The next stage will be to attempt to correctly identify all of the critters - especially the herps - from the photos.
Hog-nosed Anole
Frog
Spider
Cheers!
Kyle
I finally bore down today and completed my Costa Rica photos. All of my favourites can now be viewed here: http://www.kylehorner.com/costarica.php. Below are a few samples.
The next stage will be to attempt to correctly identify all of the critters - especially the herps - from the photos.
Frog
Spider
Cheers!
Kyle
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Finally Some Photos!
Hello!
I have finally gained a bit of momentum on the photo front - the first installment of Costa Rica photos are uploaded to the website. Have a look at them here: http://www.kylehorner.com/costarica.php. I'm hoping this momentum will keep me rolling as there are many more to upload. Some will look familiar as they have been posted on the blog in a preliminary form, but others (especially the Tortuguero and Corcovado ones) should be new. Also I have prioritized posting the photos over identification, so many of the species are not fully ID'd - all in due time.
Cheers!
Kyle
I have finally gained a bit of momentum on the photo front - the first installment of Costa Rica photos are uploaded to the website. Have a look at them here: http://www.kylehorner.com/costarica.php. I'm hoping this momentum will keep me rolling as there are many more to upload. Some will look familiar as they have been posted on the blog in a preliminary form, but others (especially the Tortuguero and Corcovado ones) should be new. Also I have prioritized posting the photos over identification, so many of the species are not fully ID'd - all in due time.
Cheers!
Kyle
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