The Many Shades of Texas - [Original Photos]
I took the photos above on August 17, 2016 with a Canon EOS Rebel SL1 and Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens, just before the torrential downpours carrying over from Louisiana started up again. We've had quite a bit of rain over the last few days and most of the plants are loving it. So much so that a 15 foot tall cactus that rarely blooms is currently trying to bloom.
Today I started taking some shots of the cactus (which I'm currently researching to determine what kind of cactus it is) to chronicle it's blooming process and if and when it finally blooms I will post those pictures here on Steemit for everyone to enjoy! The cactus has been around for many years but I'd never noticed it until someone brought it to my attention today. Supposedly it puts off some gorgeous flowers when it blooms.
The fifth picture above is from the base of the cactus. I caught a spider inside of his web waiting for his prey. The pine needle added a nice 3D look to it I thought. In the last image is some very strange spider that I call a Batman spider, because I'm stupid and have no clue what it's called ... and if I quote Wikipedia people (and bots) seem to get upset.
So no more "fun facts" for you, just speculation and made up information from me! :)
Holy smoke. Great pics. I love those blue flowers especially.
Thanks condra! :)
I love blue in the garden. I'm thinking the blue flower is either plumbago or a blue phlox. Do you happen to know?
It is the Blue Shades Ruellia (Ruelia Tonos Azules)
thanks. And no wonder I don't know it! it's only hardy to zone 8. Lucky Texas.
Well ya know what, I misidentified it. =/
This is actually a Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata). I bought both at the same time and grabbed the wrong tag.
That's okay! I originally thought it was plumbago really because of the spent seed pod, but the color blue in your photo is so incredible and my plumbago just isn't that blue, so I wasn't sure.
Now that you've said that I went back and compared the original to the post-processed (Lightroom) version and man it sure did change that blue! Here's the raw version. I didn't realize it adjusted the hue that much.
automatic upvote cause I seen Texas... started looking at the awesome pics and nearly had a panic attack cuz I seen spiders... I hate spiders.. especially banana spiders IN TEXAS...They are the DEVIL. Thinking about doing a video on how much I hate them
Great pics btw.. :P
Thanks!
Awww yeah, I hate not seeing one of them fuckers webs strung out between trees or swing post and then walking right into it. I scream like a little girl, which is never a good thing for a man to do in Texas. ;)
AWWWWWWW, I nearly screamed thinking about it... I've nearly reached out and grabbed one without realizing the center of the web was aligned with my palm. I was about to grab a branch from a bush I was clearing out when I caught it last moment.
I must admit, the girl scream came out quick... then I remembered... I'm a Texan and my high pitch yeep turned into the sound of 7,000 bullhorns.. you know.. the only way a Man in Texas is supposed to sound when raising his voice
lol yup
Hahaha @mrwang I think we heard you up here in DFW!
oo snaps... another fellow Texan :P
I'm going to be back up there in Dallas soon... shooting season 2 "Queens of the South"
Maybe we can do a Steemit Meetup when I'm up there
Sounds cool @mrwang! We're doing something revolutionary up here--we're actually the most sustainable organization in the state. Come check us out! http://www.intothegardenofeden.com
Unsure if I did ask but.... what part of Texas your from?
I am also considering the fact that I have indeed already asked you this question.. my apologies if I did :D
The closest big city to me is Houston.
Oh now I see where you live!
Thats awesome I am up in the DFW area but I go near houston somewhat often to speak at festivals, conferences and such. Hope to meet you one day Brother!
somebody called you marco.. you do work for the Houston Press?
"macro", meaning extreme close-up photography. :)
lol, my bad.. thought you might be somebody I know, haha.. I live in Houston actually.. born and raised :)
Like the pictures. Especially the evening pictures in the dark.
Whenever I see your photos I say to myself: "Boy, you should buy a rebel. Your photos will be just great with it!" :)
Yes, I know, the magic is in the eye of the one behind the camera.
I've been very happy with the 2 I've had so far and I give them all of the credit. :)
@pierce-the-veil: Quality equipment is truly priceless @tuck-fheman.
I'm sure they very much appreciate the praise!
@pierce-the-veil
Nice macro, @tuck-fheman! :)
Hahah! :)
Thanks! :)
Very nice. Love the wagon wheel or whatever it is. That 24mm lens looks nice. - adding it to my wish list.
My favourite one is the blue flowers one. The colours on that look like a painting to me and I love paintings.
I also like the red flowers with the green background a lot too. The contrast in colours is nice. It's not what I would expect from Texas but I do understand that a lot of Texas is green and forested (or at least I have heard that lately). I used to think it was all just desert.
I'm not scared of spiders but I suspect some of the ones in Texas are poisonous so I wouldn't want to get too close to them.
Thanks! Yeah I really dig those blue flowers, just beautiful. I'm fairly certain I'm arachnophobic, based simply off the pitch of my scream when a spider gets near me. I'm pretty sure that's how doctors determine whether you are or not. ;)
You're welcome I love photography and art:)
I think that's called the scream sign lol. I'm surprised you're arachnophobic because the ones in the second last picture look huge. I'm not too scared of spiders or bugs as long as they aren't close. If they are close then I have to leave. Apart from butterflies - they don't bother me.
So spiders scare you but not those huge wasps like yesterday. Is it anything in particular about the spiders? For me I didn't have much of a problem until someone told me that you swallow an average of 2 every year.
It sounds like one of those bullshit urban legend statistics to me but now if I see one up close I can't help but imagine it in my mouth.
Yeah I heard that as well and then checked it out and it is an urban legend afaict.
I have no idea why spiders (and most crawly type bugs) creep me out so much. It's weird because I have zero fear of snakes (probably to a fault), which most people I know are terrified of, and wasp/bees generally don't bother me either.
The only thing I can think of is my brother was/is an ahole and when we were kids he used to scare me constantly by putting bugs on me and screaming something like ... "OH MY GOD!" as loud as he could while pointing at me. :)
Man those spider pictures are awesome, I love 'em! Most of the time creepy-crawlies don't bother me much, though for some reason I can't stand moths. Especially the really big ones with furry bodies. The worst is we get luna moths up here where I am and while they're beautiful, they freak me right the hell out if they blunder into me. It's not like they can bite you or anything - for chrissake the luna moth doesn't even really have a mouth, they only live long enough to mate before they die - but they're just so damn big that they make my skin crawl!
I can understand that unfortunately I was the ahole brother who used to do those things to my little brother. I wasn't squeamish back then. Seems to be as I'm getting older.
Yes I thought the spider swallowing thing was BS but I'm a bit OCD and once I get an image stuck in my mind it's hard to get rid of. So my rational mind tells me it is BS but the image still bothers me! Crazy.
Nice shots, Tuck. Really like the theme too.
Thanks! :)
I just noticed that in the last image, Godzilla is trying to eat that spider. How did I not see Godzilla when taking the picture! :)
Cool Post Brother~
I have spent most of my life when not traveling in Texas. Where in Texas do you call home or were you just traveling through?
I have a cannon T3i and love cannon so much. Makes shooting beautiful picks so fast and easy!
Thanks again for your contributions to Steemit!
Oh and I just published a cool new post with my interview with Ron Paul and my community also made a post on FOOD PORN!!!
https://steemit.com/anarchy/@quinneaker/ron-paul-interviews-quinn-eaker-after-appalling-black-ops-swat-raid-part-2-behind-the-scenes-video-of-the-ron-paul-show
https://steemit.com/community/@gardenofeden/a-delicious-taste-of-the-abundantly-free-life-in-our-sustainable-community