Having Monday Blues On Wednesday ;0(

Mommy spider guarding her egg sacs.

Web was found in an American Holly tree

This image has been digitally altered of course using ArcSoft PhotoStudio that came with my digital Canon Rebel XT. I used the Sigma 150 macro lens for this shot.

Arachnid Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Dreamy Whiskasssss!!!

My Charlie in available window light ;0)

This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

canon rebel xt - sigma 150 macro - uncropped image - richmond virginia - chesterfield county - cat whiskers feline nature

Kitty Photography by Carolyn Hietala

My Boy Charlie

Bird Watching

Charlie is a rescue kitty.

He rescues me daily with his sensitive loving nature ;0)

Richmond Virginia

All my images are protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Tabby Cat Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Busy Bokeh

Small Bee On White Wildflowers ;0)

richmond virginia - chesterfield county - backyard insect nature - wild aster - canon rebel xt - sigma 150 macro - uncropped image - autumn pollination

This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Insect Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Essence Of A Cat

Greyboy exudes energy and has an exciting zest for life. He can turn even the air into a play toy. This image perfectly captures this feline's dynamic personality!

Cat Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Bored? Frazzled? Need vacation? Does frolicking in the sun, experiencing new exciting smells and sights sound tempting?

Spend a day with ME!

Wild Asters & Pearly Crescentspot (Phyciodes tharos)

All my images are protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Butterfly Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

A beautiful Richmond model..... thanks for posing!

Evening Wait

In teaching myself people portraiture, I have discovered that

it is quite a bit different than photographing bugs on flowers.

Fortunately my model is very patient!

This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.


Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County
Human Nature Portrait by Carolyn Hietala

Succulent Display - Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

This wonderful grouping of plants was actually constructed as to cascade from the top of a wall alongside the walkway leading to the Conservatory. One day I would love to make a similar mound planting at home..... one day ;0)

Richmond Virginia Gardens Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

grassy brassy love

Sunny Lovers In Camouflage

Nature Procreation Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Ethereal Cat

Charlie is beside himself..... window gazing ;0)

Kitty Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Sunlit Smile..... my first attempt at portraiture ;0)

A Lovely Richmonder

This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Portrait Of A Woman by Carolyn Hietala

fresh out of kleenex

A bit of Min Pin humor ;0)

Image copyright protected. All rights reserved.

Nature Dog Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Good Old Summertime..... Come Back! Missing Rain Barrel Frog ;0)

Rain Barrel Frog - Lounging in the shade.

I don't know where this fellow is spending the Winter but I'm sure it's cold there ;0)

canon rebel xt - sigma 150 macro - uncropped image - pickerel amphibian - backyard wildlife nature - water conservation - richmond virginia - chesterfield county

Nature Summer Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Horizontal Posture

Let's turn back time with a touch of Autumn!

Fall Colors - Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

Small spotted yellow leaves on tiny branches resembling little baby trees..... lined up nicely on a very straight chunky limb. Whew! That's a mouthful. Or is it limbs on branches? I'll figure it out later ;0)

Nature Seasonal Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Wishing all the bees of the world a much better year in 2009! Plant and preserve our native wildflowers ;0)

Let our bees NOT disappear in a blur......

help save the bee!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!..... HAVE A SUPER 2009 ;0)

Search the net and you will find out more about the plight of bees.

Our very existance depends on them.

I especially appreciate the honeybees with their gift of honey..... don't you?

Nature Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

My Honey is so special..... she glows!

Hug your loved ones and enjoy

an especially glorious 2009 together..... one and all! ;0)

This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Nature Honeybee Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Bread Pudding..... a thoughtful gift warms the start of the New Year 2009

Yummmm..... thanks daughter!

There's nothing like comfort food for the holidays.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009..... Each And Everyone!!!!!!!!
Image and pudding by Adrienne Quesenberry

Nature Photography Blog by Carolyn Hietala

Graced by warm rays of Autumn sun, we smelled the sweetness of aster and shared a gentle breeze.

In this brief moment of peaceful serenity we were one..... then silently bid our farewells. Little bee and me.

Peace And Goodwill To All..... Happy Holidays ;0)

Nature Honeybee Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Let's play "sneak up on the rain barrel frog"

Just a game I play.....

.....trying to get super close for a decent shot..... but all the plants are a challenge. If I approach too close sometimes from the front then frog slips into the water. Oh well. I'll try again next Summer. (cute Pickerel ;0)

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Elderberry..... a native plant of Virginia captured in magical display

Berry Bokeh On A VERY Sunny Summer Day

Once ripened these berries do not stay on display very long. The birds quickly devour them.


Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Remember..... ALWAYS exit with a BRIGHT SMILE!!!

Deck Nails In Autumn Unison.....

with Sweetgum and Oak

Happy Holidays Everyone! ;0)

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

I made a wish..... and became BOKEH !!!!!

Be careful what you wish for ;0)
Soft Butterfly Orange & Cottony Wildflower White Bokeh

Nature Macro Image by Carolyn Hietala

An Image Of Life And Death

Hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving..... I know I did.

Turkey is great but sharing special time

with those you love is the best!!!!!!!!! ;0)

Happy Black Friday!

Enjoy those leftovers!

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Ornamental Grass In Autumn

With backlight illumination from the rising sun, these

ornamental grass seeds have a

special soft creamy glow about them.

richmond virginia - chesterfield county - grasses - fall

Nature Flora Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

A copper head in mossy green bokeh!

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

neonate Northern Copperhead Snake

Note the bright green/yellow tail distinguishing it as a baby. Getting this close to photograph a pit viper is emphatically NOT advocated..... even if it happens to be a juvenile like this one!

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / woodland backyard reptile / patchy sunlight / uncropped image / richmond virginia / chesterfield county

Nature Herp Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

.....and she did exit in a blaze of glory

Last Rose Bokeh

In joyful brilliance, native Sumac and Japanese Red Maple

accompany Miss Graham Thomas English Rose

on her journey home.

richmond virginia - chesterfield county - yellow flower blossom - autumn

Nature Floral Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Hanging Around On A Hanging Round

Home Sweet Home..... compliments of Sycamore!

Peachy keen background..... compliments of Fall colors ;0)

This bug is one of many that were clinging to the green spiny seed balls of the American Sycamore tree - Platanus occidentalis. Autumn surely brings sustaining harvest to many.

Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County - Insect Nature

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Turning The Leaves Of History

An Autumn day ends..... there are new hopes for dawn.

Fall of 2008 macro image by Carolyn Hietala

Standing together..... side by side in Virginia

Tall hopes. Tall expectations.

November 4, 2008

Image by Carolyn Hietala

Hmmm..... I wonder if I turned off the coffee pot

Oh Well. Gotta hurry to get in line to VOTE!

November 4, 2008

This very large ant kept going back into its hole, then quickly out again..... over and over again, touching its face as if it had forgotten something really important. OCD maybe? Still undecided?

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

If we were ants..... what might the last days of campaigning look like?

So glad we are a bit more civilised. Happy Voting!

Nature Ant Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

To know when NOT to hover.....

.....and the tummy always knows ;0)

Hover Fly - Yellow & Black Insect On Wild Aster

Backyard Woodland Diptera Wildflowers

Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala (click on image to enlarge)

Good AfterMoon Miss Luna!

Ahhhh..... to be MOONED by a beautiful insect.

Honestly, I don't really know if this moth is a miss, ms, mrs or it even might be a mister!? Anyway it's definitely a moon shot ;0)

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Remember Marimba?

Ahhhh..... The beautiful resonating sounds of rosewood.

Can't think of a better way to remember a tree!

Nature Tree Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Huckleberry Blue

A dry summer and some very hungry critters made doubly sure that the sweet smell of fresh baked huckleberry pie would not grace my kitchen this year..... so bluely missed.

Nature Berry Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

This is a wild variety native to Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County - Woodland Plant

Busy Busy Bee! Busy Busy ME!

Wild Asters of October Autumn.....

with fresh morning dew and an eager Honey Bee in flight.

I love this composition and can't wait to paint it one day ;0)

Busy Busy Me!..... I'll be slowing down my photo posting just a little as my oil painting is taking priority. It's not like I don't have plenty of reference images...... ha. Hope to share my art again soon.

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

richmond virginia - chesterfield county - wildflowers - insect in flight

Landscape: The Rolling Hills Of Virginia

October Autumn Colors Emerging

Images taken in late evening through a car window moving at the speed of.... I'm not telling ;0)

Nature Photographs by Carolyn Hietala

Soul Mates..... basking in love's glow

Pearly Crescentspot - Phyciodes tharos

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Wild Aster - Butterflies

Nature Insect Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Life under the wild asters of Virginia

A small jumping spider.....

.....warms in the sun while resting upon a fading blade of ornamental grass. It remains on alert as insect prey and predator move all about.

It's a busy buzzy world amongst the wildflowers in my backyard this Autumn. Bees are urgently hopping from flower to flower, hover flies are hovering, butterflies incessantly flirting; all being watched by this lone stationary arachnid.

I begin to feel a close connection with this spider as we both are observers here. We're sharing intimate views in this tiny, seemingly insignificant universe. I leave with a smile ;0)

richmond virginia -chesterfield county - backyard - salticidae

Nature Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Hover Fly Magnets

Wildflowers & Hover Fly

Wild Asters are Hoverfly magnets! Oh how I look forward to their autumn blossoms as they attract a myriad of insects. With your camera in hand, pull up a lawn chair and capture their antics. Get close enough and you will smell the delicate fragrance of the tiny white flowers. ENJOY! ;0)

Nature Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

What a beautiful world I live in!

Species: Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi

Spotted Cucumber Beetle

My Mom's Graham Thomas English Rose - Autumn Bloom

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Ahhhh.... Virginia's Wildlife! Paper Wasp On Wild Asters

Polistes bellicosus

Insect Nature Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image is copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Luscious Cascading Red

Reminiscing a lazy hazy day of Summer

with an image of wild red Blackberries

A berry plant native to Virginia that is very wildlife friendly!

Nature Fruit Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

(all my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved)

REACH FOR THE LIGHT

HONEYBEE ON WILD ASTER

Our honeybees are in trouble

Please preserve the native wildflowers of Virginia by integrating them into your flower gardens. Their beauty is amazing!

Let's keep our bees happy and healthy ;0)

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

(image taken in my own backyard - Richmond, Va. - Chesterfield County)

All of my photographs are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Why I Love The Wild Asters Of Virginia

The tiny white flowers are teeming with life.....

a smorgasbord for insects and insect photographers alike!

Aster dumosus - Bushy Aster - a native wildflower - perennial

Nature Wildlife Photography by Carolyn Hietala

Yard Buddy In Camouflage Suit

This is one my Miniature Pinscher's "friends"..... a rather large, brave and admirably tolerant Pickerel Frog.

They used to frolic during the day and frequently at night under the illumination of the porch light..... until recently.

My Min Pin has grown so accustomed to the presence of this amphibian in "his" backyard that he now only greets it with a quick sniff then walks away. No longer do they frolic.

Finally! Thank goodness! Two summers of constant "LEAVE IT" has been enough for me!!!! ;0)

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

This neonate reptile is native to Richmond, Virginia.

Northern Copperhead Snake

Nature Herp Photograph by Carolyn Hietala