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tsubaki-images.bsky.social
Camellia japonica 'C.M Hovey'
1022

I've got this one under cover so she has a chance to fully open.
15 image stack.
7.5cm (3") flower.

17/10/2025
#camellias #gardeningau #photography #flowerreport #zerenestacker #darktable
October 17, 2025 at 3:18 AM
tsubaki-images.bsky.social
Camellia japonica 'John Hall'
Very fast grower.

1167

15 image stack.
4cm (1.75") flower. Will get bigger.

08/10/2025
#camellias #gardeningau #photography #flowerreport #zerenestacker #darktable
October 8, 2025 at 3:55 AM
tsubaki-images.bsky.social
Camellia japonica 'Donckelaeri'
1026

A milestone for me as this entire process was manual, even down to the 5 image focus bracket as fill flash was used and I needed time for the flash to recharge.

6cm (2.5") flower.

27-09-2025
#Camellias #GardeningAU #Photography #ZereneStacker #Darktable
September 27, 2025 at 3:54 AM
tsubaki-images.bsky.social
Camellia japonica 'Roger Hall'

1167

Messing with focus bracketing and trying to unravel the complexities of Darktable. Details in alt.

7.5cm (3") flower.

17-09-2025
#Camellias #GardeningAU #Photography #ZereneStacker #Darktable
Pure red, and very formal structure of a Camellia japonica cultivar 'Roger Hall' Canon EOS R5 - Canon RF 100mm 2.8 L MACRO IS USM 1/6 + f6.4 + 100 ISO 10 image stack processed in Zerene Stacker Darktable processes limited to some baseline stuff like Denoise, Sigmoid etc, plus my idea of Sharpening tending to the subtle side. --- some of these will be big images --- --- all plants are in my garden ---
September 17, 2025 at 4:41 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A male #RingedEmerald #dragonfly, #Somatochlora-albicincta at EnidLake #Mt.Hood,Oregon,USA

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Cordulidae #Emerald #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art
A male Ringed Emerald dragonfly, Somatochlora albicincta at EnidLake near Mt.Hood, Oregon, USA. This specimen displays a bronze colored frons and vertex that is salled a structural color rather than a pigment based color. Most structural colors appear metallic or iridescent and are caused by the fine molecular structure of the surface that causes it refract specific wavelengths in the spectrum. So far, I have discovered males with this color and also a bright blue color, but I don't know the cause of 2 color morphs. On the Emeralds the colors on the face are only visible to humans under diffused light, like a cloudy day, but they just appear a shiny black under direct sunlight. Metallic greenish coloration on the thorax are visible under all light. The Emerald get their name from their magnificent green eyes. Focus stacks were shot with a Nikon D810 w/50mm Rodenstock Rodagon mounted on Nikon PB-4 Bellows, ~3X. See my other blue male.
February 8, 2025 at 3:33 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A male #BeaverpondBaskettail #dragonfly, #Epitheca-canis at Freeway Lakes #Albany,Oregon,USA

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Cordulidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #Macro #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art
A male Beaverpond Baskettail dragonfly, Epitheca canis at Freeway Lakes, Albany, Oregon, USA. This species is one of my favorites, primarily flying here in the Willamette Valley in May and June. The eyes of mature males are mostly sapphire blue but as they mature there are amazing reddish purples and the color changes when viewed from different angles. They are called Baskettails because all Epitheca females carry a large ball of eggs, at the end of their abdomen, as they fly around searching for just the right plant stem or twig on the surface of water. They touch the egg ball to the stem and it sticks and immediately expands into a long gelatin string with the eggs embedded. Often there will be multiple egg strings attached to the same stem. Baskettails are extremely hairy on the thorax and head with very distinctive patterns and colors of setae (hairs).
March 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
mrpistachios.mastodon.neatobuilds.com.ap.brid.gy
Baby on a flower seen on my lunch walk

@photography
#insect #cricket #neatobuilds #year2025 #macro #photography #sonya7riii #laowa #nature #bloomscrolling #darktable #zerenestacker
a young cricket on a flower
June 17, 2025 at 2:13 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A mating pair #CommonGreenDarner #dragonfly #Anax-junius at #FreewayLakes #Albany,Oregon,USA

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Aeshnidae #Darner #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art
A mating pair of Common Green Darner dragonflies, Anax junius at Freeway Lakes Albany, Oregon, USA. Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) mating morphology and behavior is different from any other order of insects. Males produce sperm packets at the end of their abdomen, but then transfer them to accessory genitalia (hamules) on their 2nd abdominal segment. Dragonfly males have 3 appendages at the tip of their abdomen, 2 upper cerci and a single lower epiproct that they use to grasp the head of the female with the cerci going behind the female's head and the epiproct grasping her between the eyes like a clamp, sometimes even damaging her eyes. If the female recognizes the male's grasp she is stimulated to curve her abdomen tip up to the male's hamules and he transfers his sperm packets to a special special pouch so she can fertilize each egg as she lays it. In some species the males will remove any sperm from earlier matings, sometimes they pack their sperm on top so that it fertilizes the eggs. Aeshnids (Darners) all oviposit by inserting their eggs individually into some sort of soft substrate like plant tissue, soft wet wood, etc. The eggs have to be wet or submerged to develop. Shot with a Nikon D700 and a 200mm Micro-Nikkor. See the photo of the female's dorsal head for damage caused by the male's epiproct. A female Common Green Darner dragonfly, Anax junius at Freeway Lakes Albany, Oregon, USA. We can tell she has mated and passed her genes to the next generation because the male she mated with grasped her head between his cerci and epiproct and the epiproct caused the dents in the eyes. Shot with a Nikon D810 and a Rodenstock Rodagon 50mm APO mounted on a Nikon PB-4 Bellows. See the alt text on the other shot for a more detailed description of dragonfly mating.
February 12, 2025 at 9:05 PM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A female #AmericaEmerald #dragonfly, #Cordulia-shurtleffi at Mosquito Swamp, Santiam Pass, Oregon, USA.
#Odonata #Insect #DragonflyPhotography #ExtremeMacroPhotography #SteveValleyPhotography #WesternOdonata #FocusStacking, #photography #SciArt #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker
A portrait of a female America Emerald dragonfly, Cordulia shurtleffi at Mosquito Swamp, Santiam Pass, Oregon, USA.
January 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A female #AmericanRubyspot #damselfly, #Hetaerina-americana on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA.

#Odonata #Insect #DamselflyPhotography #ExtremeMacroPhotography #SteveValleyPhotography #ZereneStacker #Science #photography #SciArt #NikonD810 #Entomology #FocusStack #MitutoyoM-PlanAPO-5xObjective
A female American Rubyspot damselfly, Hetaerina americana on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA.
January 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#WillowMaleCatkin #WillowCatkin #WillowFlowers at Freeway Lakes, #Albany,Oregon,USA, 5X.
#Flowers #Spring #Willow #PussyWillow #VascularPlants #NativePlants #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #photography #Macro #SciArt #BugPics #FlowerPhotography #Science
Male willow catkin 15-Mar-25 at Freeway Lakes, Albany, Oregon, USA.
March 16, 2025 at 2:53 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A mature female #ColumbiaClubtail #dragonfly #Gomphurus-lynnae #JohnDayRiver,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Gomphidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #art #DragonflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #Pruinosity #SteveValleyPhotography
A mature female Columbia Clubtail, Gompurus lynnae on the John Day River, Oregon.
July 3, 2025 at 1:14 AM
tsubaki-images.bsky.social
Camellia japonica 'Red Red Rose'
1168

Considering the rivalry between camellia and rose growers, ballsy attitude to name a camellia 'Rose".

10cm (4") flower.

23-08-2025
#Camellias #Gardeningau #Photography #zerenestacker
Canon EOS R5 - Canon RF 100mm 2.8 L MACRO IS USM Aperture Priority Program 1/21 + f7.0 + ISO 100 Focus Bracket Exercise
August 23, 2025 at 4:58 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A male #AmericanRubyspot #damselfly #Hetaerina-americana #CoxCreek,Albany,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterygidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #art #DamselflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #Structural/MetallicColors #SteveValleyPhotography
A male American Rubyspot, Hetaerina americana displaying the bright metallic red on his face that is caused by the surface micro-structure rather than by pigments. As this species ages the facial colors may dull or darken. Many species of damselflies and dragonflies display bright structural coloration on their heads. A focus stacked image shot with a Mitutoyo M Plan APO 5x infinity objective and Nikon D850 DSLR camera.
July 25, 2025 at 1:55 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A male #AmericanEmerald #dragonfly, #Cordulia-shurtleffi at Mosquito Swamp, Santiam Pass, Oregon, USA. ~3.5X

#Odonata #Insect #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #photography #SciArt #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #Art
A male American Emerald dragonfly, Cordulia shurtleffi at Mosquito Swamp, Santiam Pass Hwy 20, Oregon, USA. A focus stacked portrait, lateral view, shot with a Rodenstock Rodagon 50mm mounted on a Nikon PB-4 Bellows on a Nikon D850 ~3.5X
February 6, 2025 at 5:30 AM
perezmedia.bsky.social
Macro practice on a small rockhounding find. Focus stacks have been an ongoing pain. Photoshop despises my handheld sequences. Testing ZereneStacker as a dedicated stacking app now. 29 shot stack & it's blending better than PS so far. Finer control needed capturing a series to get rid of soft spots.
December 29, 2024 at 5:56 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A female #WesternPondhawk #dragonfly, #Erythemis-collocata Cox Cr., Albany, Oregon, USA. ~3.5X

#Odonata #Insect #Predator #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #photography #SciArt #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #Art #BadAss
A female Western Pondhawk dragonfly, Erythemis collocata on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. Anterior view ~3.5X
January 24, 2025 at 5:56 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#MysteryMondayDragonfly, A new clue, image 2, note the white zone of facets along the terminator line if the eyes.
#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #SciArt
Week 1, image #2, note the white ommatidia (facets) along the terminator in the eye. The posterior (back) part of the eyes is are also white. I AM STARTING A WEEKLY MYSTERY MONDAY DRAGONFLY CONTEST. I am looking for Species (scientific name), sex, maturity (teneral, immature, mature, senescent). Click my name and send me your answer, without revealing it in a comment. Winners will be announced next week. I don't know if we have enough dragonfly enthusiasts, on Blue Sky, who know also know taxonomy to support this sort of contest, but if everyone who is still on Facebook could encourage the active members in the Facebook groups like Western Odonata, etc. to join Blue Sky, maybe we can get more Odonatologists and other entomologists to join our community.
February 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
samuellison.com.web.brid.gy
My first stacked photo made up of 100 images and processed in #ZereneStacker. This was a close up of a mushroom measuring less than 5cm.

Thoughts welcome.

**Mossy Throne** 📸

July 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#WillowPistils #WillowOvaries #WillowFlowers at Freeway Lakes, #Albany,Oregon,USA, 5X.
#Flowers #Spring #Willow #PussyWillow #VascularPlants #NativePlants #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #photography #Macro #SciArt #BugPics #FlowerPhotography #Science
Willow Pistils (female flower parts) 14-Mar-25 at Freeway Lakes, Albany, Oregon, USA. Focus stacked with a Nikon D810 and a Mitutoyo M Plan APO 5x objective, composited with Zerene Stacker PMax.
March 14, 2025 at 11:45 PM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#WillowStamens #WillowPollen #WillowFlowers at Freeway Lakes, #Albany,Oregon,USA, 5X.
#Flowers #Spring #Willow #PussyWillow #VascularPlants #NativePlants #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #photography #Macro #SciArt #BugPics #FlowerPhotography #Science
Willow Stamens 7-Mar-25 at Freeway Lakes, Albany, Oregon, USA. Focus stacked with a Nikon D810 and a Mitutoyo M Plan APO 5x objective, composited with Zerene Stacker PMax.
March 8, 2025 at 12:17 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#Black-tippedDarnerNymph #Aeshna-tuberculifera #Pronymph #DragonflyPronymph #Instar1
#Odonata #Insect #Predator #Anisoptera #Aeshniidae #Aquatic #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #SciArt #FocusStack #ZereneStacker #NikonD810 #Mitutoyo-MPlanAPO-10X-objective #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science
Black-tipped Darner Dragonfly Nymph Instar 1, Aeshna tuberculifera, Dragonfly Pro-nymph Instar1. Odonata all hatch from eggs as a pro-nymph that immediately (within 1-30 minutes) molts its exoskeleton that it leaves behind as an exuvia.
January 30, 2025 at 8:45 PM
perezmedia.bsky.social
Canon EOS R5
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X
YN560 III Speedlight
Gauge Macrophotography diffuser
1/125 sec., f/8.0, ISO 200
20 image focus stack with ZereneStacker
February 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
mrpistachios.mastodon.neatobuilds.com.ap.brid.gy
Little spider hanging out on a tree

@photography
#spider #photography #macro #insects #year2025 #darktable #zerenestacker #laowa #sonya7riii
A light colored spider that was on the side of a tree with a similar color
July 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A female #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis #CoxCreekAlbany,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterygidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #art #DamselflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #Structural/MetallicColors #SteveValleyPhotography
An immature female River Jewelwing, Calopteryx aequabilis displaying the bright metallic green and red on his face that is caused by the surface micro-structure rather than by pigments. As this species ages the facial colors may dull or darken. The eyes will also darken. Many species of damselflies and dragonflies display bright structural coloration on their heads. A focus stacked image shot with a Mitutoyo M Plan APO 5x infinity objective and Nikon D810 DSLR camera.
July 25, 2025 at 2:11 AM