Photo Essay: Blossoms & Their Buddies

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail in flight. Adults eat the nectar of flowers from a variety of plants.

Rob Travis on the opening-page photo: “I was composing this yellow-on-blue combo and great texture when a bee mimic hoverfly came by to add perfect color.”

Travis: “Capturing fast-moving flying insects requires patience as well as skill. I noticed this dragonfly sometimes went to this perch, so I waited there a while to see if it came by again.”

Travis: “Composition plays a big part in flower/insect photography. Sometimes, I take many shots to get the best image, always trying to capture the action of the visitor and the beauty of the host.”

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