May 2021 • Nebraskaland 21
hen developing an interest in nature photography
years ago, capturing the subjects on these pages were
at the bottom of my list.
Yet, on countless mornings of taking photos of
landscapes and wildlife, there they were: Little bursts of color
around my feet. I already knew that pretty sunrises, sunsets
and fauna were even more attractive with wildfl owers in the
scene.
Soon, though, I learned a macro lens focused at various
parts of these plants could provide imagery rivaling any burst
of fi reworks. The radiating petals of a fl ower feature the lines
that we photographers crave. The presence of a pollinating
insect makes a scene akin to those provided by our biggest
wildlife species. All the while, the plants congenially
remained still enough for me to set up off -camera fl ash and
multiple poses.
Along the way, I have also learned some things about the
plants, which I value just as much as the imagery. Still too
often, though, some unfamiliar petals catch my eye, and I
think to myself, "You sure are a pretty little thing, but are you
worth the trouble?"
By "trouble," I mean shooting the photo, entering it into
W
