Kip’s Comments - August 22, 2025

Bokeh, Blur, Shadows, and Critters

After a brief, but important project this morning that ended well, I “settled” by enjoying a prairie walk at a location I have not strolled for weeks. As I walked with my camera I was watching for wildflowers, butterflies, dragonflies, or bugs that might make interesting images.

With the blossoms I had a criteria - as much as possible I wanted the pictures to be “pretty” by controlling the backgrounds using shadows and limited depth-of-field (sharpness). I think most of the efforts worked. For the critters I had little to no control over their locations so I photographed them as I found them.

Following is a sampling of what I considered a good hike.

American Hog-peanut - Image 1016592

Azure Blue Sage - Image 1016608

Azure Blue Sage - Image 1016633

Azure Blue Sage - Image 1016691

Black Swallowtail Butterfly - Image 1016708

Brown Stink Bug on Showy Tick-trefoil - Image 1016724

Common Wood Nymph Butterfly - Image 1016731

Compass Plant - Image 1016743

False Sunflower - Image 1016749

Goldenrod Soldier Beetle on False Sunflower - Image 1016770

Jumpseed - Image 1016795

Showy Tick-trefoil - Image 1016836

Spiderwort - Image 1016849

Sunflower Bee on False Sunflower - Image 1016856

Virgin's Bower Leaves - Image 1016860

White Snakeroot - Image 1016864

Yellow Giant Hyssop - Image 1016929

Yellow Indian Grass - Image 1016935

Yellow Jewelweed - Image 1016968

Yellow-winged Darter Dragonfly - Image 1016995

Before I even left our home this morning I shot a wide view of rural Iowa in the morning.

Rural Iowa Morning - Image 1016822