Street Portrait: Two Strange Birds

I spotted my friend Junior with a female Eclectus Parrot on his shoulder at Jazz Festival, in Grand Rapids, MI a couple weeks ago.  He ignored my wisecrack about someone giving him the bird.  Eclectus Parrots are native to the Solomon Islands.  Junior is local.  :)

One Year

It hardly seems like it, but it was a year ago today that my friend Mike died.  I still think of him often, and find myself laughing at what I imagine he would say about things.

This photo is from the series I took of his short battle with esophageal cancer.  It is the last photo I ever took of him, and it may be my favorite.  Being too weak to talk never stopped him from being able to express his opinion, which should surprise no one who knew him.  He hated having his photo taken under the best of circumstances, and was feeling pretty ill when I showed up for my regular visit.  When I got ready, I asked him if he was feeling well enough for me to photograph him and this was his response.  I like it because it captures so much of what was going on.  His attitude towards cancer, his attitude towards having his photo taken, and his attitude at having a friend see him in this really dehumanizing and utterly helpless situation.  To see him that openly vulnerable, and to see that although his physicality was rapidly deteriorating his personality was every bit as it always had been, that cancer was not going to beat him on that front at least, really makes this a powerful and personally touching photograph for me.

More Macro Madness

This little guy is only half an inch long.  Isn't he adorable?  :)

I am especially pleased with this shot, because I was able to remain so steady for it.  This was done with a non-VR macro lens, with me manually focusing by moving the hand with the frog on it closer and/or farther away from the camera, which itself was not on a tripod but simply held in my other hand.  Not bad for an old man, eh? 

Happy Fourth of July!

To purchase an 11.25x17 inch poster of this image, send a check or money order for $5 to:

Jonderson Photography
17400 Sparta Ave
Kent City, MI
49330
Attn: Flag Poster Offer

Macro Time

This month's photo is a detail shot of a Polyphemus Moth wing.  Polyphemus was a famous Greek cyclops, which is how this moth got its name...each underwing has an "eyespot".  Polyphemus Moths only live as adults for about a week.

Painted Turtle Hatchling

Found this little guy out behind the house last week.  Only about the size of a quarter.  So cute!

Another Spring Arrives

No, really, it does!

Despite the April Fools joke of waking up to snow this morning, spring is indeed here.  To make up for the snow, you get two photos this month.  The woodcock was taken just a few days ago, and the fawn was taken last year.  (It will be another six weeks before this year's fawns begin to show up.)

Happy Spring from Jonderson Photography!