Nature

Serendipitous. Nature is how I choose to hone my creative life and energies. This is a collection of images that are under the nature theme but do not have a definitive home yet.

Dewy Spiderweb
Russ Nature Reserve, Beavercreek, Ohio The simplest things can go overlooked at times. The legendary street photographer William Eggleston always said to "photograph democratically." It is more beneficial to photograph democratically and treat all subjects the same. This webbing is just as interesting to me as a juvenile bald eagle fledging from its nest would be. I took this with my 150-600mm telephoto in order to really compress the space between the fore and background. I opted for a wide aperture to put all focus on the web itself. For even more abstract shots, one could equip a macro lens or extension tube and show the web details up close. It is simply amazing how these webs can withstand most winds without budging. The grey background also made for a nice distraction-free color. This particular morning was very foggy and so all that remained after sunrise was a layer of dew and frost as seen here. This was taken in prairie which is the reason why I used a telephoto to get intimately closer to the out of range subject matter. © 2018 Ryan L. Taylor Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Daytime Moonscape
Grant Park, Centerville, Ohio "Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” - Mark Twain It was the weekend of a bird count and I set aside almost the entire to visit locations new and old. This was my first visit to Grant Park and I found a stretch of woodland behind a neighborhood. A prime spot for songbirds and a Red Bellied Woodpecker I got a good look of. I turned to one side to see the moon peeking just out of the dark clouds. A rather minimalist shot that I am fond of. This image is an example of me missing an opportunity. A rather large black bird (crow?) flew straight through the line of sight of the moon. I took the image right as it was on top of the white orb in the sky, unfortunately my settings were still dialed from the woodpecker, so it was a nearly underexposed dark mess. Regardless of kicking myself for that moment, I still enjoy this simpler composition. © 2019 Ryan L. Taylor Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Blue Racer Watersnake
Oakes Quarry, Fairborn, Ohio "Whoever gets off the trail last wins." Let me make it clear, I found this snake already deceased. Cause of death is unknown to me, potentially starvation? I dropped down below a rock outcrop and found my feet right beside this rather large snake. I jumped in fright only to see it staying still longer than normal. It was merely laying along the stones and pebbles near a small pond where it may reside. The Blue Racer belong to a species of non-venomous snakes that occur in Ohio. I must say, photographing it was much easier without having it slither away. Blue Racers can take on a blue or black form, with each one being in geographically different parts of the state. Their top speed is 8 to 10 miles per hour. Often very nervous, they become defensive when an evading capture. One can only wonder what was the story of this lonely snake durings its life here. © 2018 Ryan L. Taylor Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)
Siebenthaler Fen, Beavercreek, Ohio "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson A newly-shedding snake basking in the sun. Getting out there to see new things or wildlife that I may be unfamiliar with are what make outdoor photography endless. There is never an exhaustion of species to see and photograph. © 2021 Ryan L. Taylor Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Carpet Moss (Amblystegium varium)
Russ Nature Reserve, Beavercreek, Ohio “The whole world is an art gallery when you're mindful. There are beautiful things everywhere and they're free." - Charles Tart There are a multitude of natural objects to see outdoors. A curious observer can find big and small features like the tallest tree or the smallest moss. Move slowly and you will see them. This interesting type of moss caught my eye with the lighting casted on the scene. This almost otherworldly color and shapes made for a more documentary image rather than an abstract. To be well rounded in my work, I shoot both those and interpretive imagery. © 2019 Ryan L. Taylor Photography. All Rights Reserved.