Gary Jean photoworks: Featured Galleries and Collections

Portrait of the Moment

(Gary Jean photoworks) — Sat, 08 May 2010 01:50:57 GMT

Washington DC, May 2010
Canon 5D, EF 24-105 f/4 L IS, 1/60 @ f/5.6, ISO 1600, 580EX
RAW file developed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.7

Dragonfly Metamorphosis

(Gary Jean photoworks) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:45:18 GMT

While paddling on the Flambeau River in northern Wisconsin, I slipped my kayak into a mass of lily pads to photograph the lotus blossoms. What caught my eye more so than the blossoms was a mass emergence of dragonflies metamorphosing from nymph to adult.

Dragonflies spend most of their lives underwater as nymphs. From the hatching of eggs, it is four years before they are ready to emerge as adults. When the time is right, the nymphs crawl to the surface onto reeds, lily pads, or blossoms, and the adult struggles to emerge.

The metamorphosis fom nymph to an adult able to fly takes many hours. After emerging from the nymph casing, the new adult must wait hours for its wings to extend and dry. During this stage, the dragonfly is defenseless to hungry birds.

The adult dragonfly lives mainly to mate. From the time it is able to fly, its lifespan is only about two months.

On the North Fork of the Flambeau River near Butternut Wisconsin, June 2010

Blue Angels 2010

(Gary Jean photoworks) — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:38:15 GMT

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels precision flying team performed at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland during "Commissioning Week."
All photos taken from my kayak while floating on the Severn River. Canon 5D & Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 L.
Annapolis Maryland, May 2010

Snorkeling with Manatees

(Gary Jean photoworks) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:36:21 GMT

Crystal River, Florida
February 2010

52 Days around the US

(Gary Jean photoworks) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:08:19 GMT

52 days, 10,000+ miles, 19 states, 5,000+ photos. Lots of National Parks, lots of bars. Hiking and paddling. Camping and motels. Cooking out and restaurants. Roads that disappear over the horizon without a trace of man (except for the road, of course). More stars than I've ever seen. A few big cities, mostly small towns. Small towns that always struggle to survive, but are having a harder time now. Sometimes a lot of not much of anything, which is pretty cool too. Lots of people doing things. Some people doing nothing. Very little Interstate highway (except for first and last days) means I saw things I never knew existed. Time (not enough) with family and friends. New friends made. Contact with nature. Contact with people. People are good out there. Most of them. If you don't read the news or watch TV for 52 days, you might just think that it's all going to be fine. The best times were with my sweetie, who was with me for the first three weeks. I'm glad to be home with her again.

Here are 101 impressions along the way.