The Beauty of the Insects

I took these pictures a few weeks ago while I was sitting by the lake with my wife Deanna, I always have my camera just in case a good opportunity shows up for shooting.

While I was relaxing in the shelter at the George Poston Park I found this caterpillar on the ground and caught my attention. It has beautiful colors and so many legs. Difficult to describe but impossible not to admire. 

So I looked for my camera and took different shots. First I had to place the caterpillar on a small branch so he could pose for the camera.  Then I moved around it to find different background colors, then I decided to experiment with different lense filters. Using a speed light I was able to create beautiful photographs. I was also using 50 mm lenses, I wish I had smaller than that to be able to get closer to it. 

I took the spider's photographs at the McDowell  Park in Charlotte, by Lake Wylie.

Ford's Seed and Plants

The owner, Ruby Ford has been working in this store for over 50 years, everybody knows her.  She is also very nice to talk with. You can also get lots of help from the Manager Peggy and her husband David. They all are very nice people.

Ford's Seed and Plants is getting busier every day since the weather has been great this week. More people are shopping for their garden and Mother's day.

When you visit the store it is like finding yourself at home, you will be welcomed by the employees right away and when your are done with your shopping they will ask you to come back again soon.

These are some plants and flowers you can find in the store and you will be amazed at how beautiful they are, there is so much variety that you will find what your looking for. 

Great place to relax and reconnect with nature, smell the flowers and touch them. The store also offers beautiful pots and decorative items for your garden. The next time I will have some photos ready so you can get some ideas how to change the look of your garden with new plants or ornaments.


I will post more information in my next visit to the store, see you later.


PS: The store is located at 231 E. Main Street, Gastonia, NC.

McDowell Nature Preserve Park

This park offers great opportunities for everyone who loves to enjoy fishing, hiking, walking, etc and the best of all for me is lots of opportunities to take photographs of people, flora and fauna. Let me show you some of the photographs I took last weekend.

As you can see it was a beautiful day, lots of sun and nice weather to do several activities like fishing, kayaking and boating. The trails are very nice, full of life, you can here and watch different kinds of birds, so get ready to explore and get your camera and friends and have good time.  

More people discovering this beautiful park.

A beautiful day to play sports, now that the volleyball net has been installed more visitors are enjoying this great sport. Sunday was excellent for this young couple to practice and burn some calories and get the muscles firm. I am pretty sure they also got a nice tan. The sun was out all day long. 

If you are looking for a place to just relax, read a book, write a story or just bird watching I could suggest this shelter, it has nice shade and a beautiful view of the lake, it also has a grill. And to the right you can take  the walking trail that will direct you to the creek, there you can see the water running down and the sound will help you to relax and forget your worries. Nice place to see. 

While watching their family members having fun fishing, they are enjoying a great conversation.

Three generations posing for my camera. It was very nice talking with them, The father had visited Ecuador before, that's where I come from. He told me he had a good time in Quito, the capital. He also said that he visited "La Mitad del Mundo" (Middle of the World), Ecuador's biggest claim to fame, the equator monument, is located right on the equator. This imaginary line divides the planet into the northern and southern hemispheres. I hope they see this photograph, I really love it.

This couple accepted to pose and did a great job, they seem to be very nice people and fun. I hope I see them again, have fun folks.

Their dog also did a good job posing, he is very obedient. It was very easy for him to pose. I would love to take more photographs of this amazing dog, he is very smart.

  

Fishing at George Poston Park

Fishing is taking off at the park, more families are gathering at the pier with their children to spend the day under the beautiful sun and feeling the cool breeze.

Here a child is showing off with pride his first catch of the day.

His grandfather did not fall behind, he is also showing his little fish that was seduced by the bait. 

I always like to create something different with my photographs, this time I wanted to show the size of the worm next to the pliers. I feel bad for it, the poor worm does not know what is going to happen next.  

 The child is given instructions and motivation on how to catch fish in this beautiful man made lake.

Three generations, grandpa, father and son showing proudly the little fish the child caught, this time a little bass.

Soccer Game at George Poston Park