So, 2012 has been pretty crazy. I started the year in Europe, where I had the opportunity to take a geometric morphometrics course and collect data for my master’s thesis. I applied to, and was accepted to a Ph.D. program in Lincoln, Nebraska … and, at the end of the year, I’ve decided to quit the program in order to take time off and focus on myself, because I’m really not sure that grad school is what I want to do with my life.
Oh, and I managed to take some photos during that time. Here are a few of my favorites from the year. I think that I’ve learned and improved a lot over the last twelve months.
Owl Butterfly
Great Plains Rat Snake
Jumping Spider
Fiery Skipper
Ringneck Snake
Next year promises to be even more exciting, as I’m going to Australia. I’ve wanted to visit for as long as I remember, and I’m really excited to go. I’m going to be living in western Queensland for at least a few months , working and taking pictures of the local fauna. Afterwards, I hope to spend some time up north, for rainforests and crocodiles, and then spend some time in Sydney and the south of the country in the Spring and Summer. I’m looking forward to discovering a whole new continent of reptiles and arthropods. :)
That jumping spider photo was my main desktop wallpaper at work. Everyone thought it was an amazing picture (though most people begged me to change it). :)
Bah, what do they know?
Nice diversity of photo technique represented in the shots above. I’m a sucker for close-ups, and the jumping spider is a natural choice, but I think the owl butterfly is actually my favorite – those eyes!
Thanks, Ted! I’m actually surprised at how well it turned out — it was my first attempt at using cross-polarized light, and I think it did a really neat job of bringing out the details of his face.
That snake is one of my fave nature photos of the year, of everybody. IT IS SO PRETTY.
Thanks! My aunt, who HAAATES snakes asked me for a print of it. That’s when I knew my snake propaganda mission was totally succeeding.
Love that Ringneck Snake image.
Wow – I too enjoyed reflecting this past year over photography techniques!
Fantastic images – Thanks!
Do the stripes on the butterfly’s eye serve any known purpose?
I do not know! But I will try to find out.