Helicopter seeds on the ground. Normally, these age further and then fall off the tree one at a time, spinning like helicopters due to the construction of their wings. This allows the tree to spread its seeds far and wide if a good wind comes through.

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/10, F2.8, 5.8mm, ISO100, 2006-01-24T17:33:39-05, 2006-01-24_17h33m39

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Credit me as Richard X. Thripp and link here.

A macro of four sharpened pencils against a purple sunset. You’ve got all the essential colors here… red, purple, green, and blue.

Sharpened Pencils 1-3 are really embarrassing, so I won’t be posting them.

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/2, F2.8, 5.8mm, ISO250, 2006-01-18T18:22:17-05, 2006-01-18_18h22m17

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Photo of an autumn leaf with the sun as a light source. The coloring on this decaying leaf was unique. I guess it was being eaten by bacteria or something?

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/400, F2.8, 5.8mm, ISO64, 2006-01-18T17:12:35-05, 2006-01-18_17h12m35

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More of the Sunshine series.

Our wood burning stove on Christmas day, 2005.

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/7, F2.8, 5.8mm, ISO100, 2005-12-25T22:57:25-05, 2005-12-25_22h57m25

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Lava lamps are so seductive.

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/7, F2.8, 5.8mm, ISO100, 2005-12-25T22:49:55-05, 2005-12-25_22h49m55

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This was a sign at Wal-Mart that apparently means “no trucks,” but I thought it looked funny. The truck on the picture looks more like a box with four wheels. So I’ve decided to title this “No Wheeled Boxes.”

This photo is from 2005, but the source image is dull and ugly. Using the curves tool, I added a lot of contrast, making the sky a bright blue and the colors white, black, and red on the sign very vivid. Then, I selectively desaturated the blue in the sky to prevent color banding when I make prints of this photo. The red will look fine, but blue is a particularly vulnerable color for some reason.

I don’t talk much about this, but it costs me $115 per month to keep this blog and my other sites online. If you could make a donation or make your Amazon.com purchases through my Amazon affiliate link, I will be very appreciative.

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/286, F4.7, 5.8mm, ISO64, 2005-11-21T09:17:57-05, 2005-11-21_09h17m57

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Credit me as Richard X. Thripp and link here.

A baby snake my father was trying to pick up with his glove. This is a new edit of a photo from 2005. I removed a lot of dirt on the glove and sidewalk using the spot healing brush. This snake is long dead, unless he managed to live over five years.

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/30, F2.8, 5.8mm, ISO100, 2005-10-03T20:25:08-04, 2005-10-03_20h25m08

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An ugly spider with red spikes.

Spiny Backed Orb Weaver (Gaster Acantha)

The most colorful and easily recognized Florida spider, having what looks like a white and black spotted shell on its back, and 6 pointy red spines. The web contains tufts of silk, probably to prevent birds from flying into it.

Females are 5mm to 10mm long, 10mm to 14mm wide. They hang in the center of the web.

The bite of the Spiny Backed Orb Weaver is not known to cause serious reactions in humans.

Thanks http://www.floridaorienteering.org/nature/spiders.htm.

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/30, F2.8, 5.8mm, ISO100, 2005-12-20T15:42:37-05, 2005-12-20_15h42m37

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Leaves on a Chinese tallow tree in autumn at night using a flash.

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/30, F2.8, 5.8mm, ISO100, 2005-12-15T17:46:43-05, 2005-12-15_17h46m43

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More of the Autumn Leaves series.

A sunrise from December of 2005. I had to get up early that day to take my ACT college entrance exam which I got a composite score of 28/36 on. In two weeks I will finally finish my A.A. degree.

Fujifilm FinePix A360, 1/137, F2.8, 5.8mm, ISO64, 2005-12-10T07:10:24-05, 2005-12-10_07h10m24

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Credit me as Richard X. Thripp and link here.