This photo is an early career favorite of mine. As I was learning photography, I would visit the creek near my childhood home. There, dragonflies were abundant. I happened to capture this photo of a dragon fly resting on a stone in the middle of a swift creek. In the background, the current of the creek can be seen sweeping past the resting dragonfly.

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This is one of my earliest photographs, while I was learning how to shoot at different angles. The school I went to had an abundance of grasshoppers due to a nearby lake, so I figured what's more of a worm-eye shot than a grasshopper? This shot was taken at ground level and boasts the hopper's vibrant greens against the foreground it sits on.

200mm, 1/125 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

While visiting the Dallas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park, I paid close attention to the small things flying and crawling around me. As I sat down for a break during my photography shoot, I looked next to me and found this little guy chilling on a flower, trying to get some nectar. I very carefully got my camera equipment back out (no rest for photographers) and got very close to the butterfly. The butterfly's proboscis would curl up and extend out as I took photos, searching for its reason to be there. Thankfully, this one was very calm and let me photograph it as it did its work. At this level of photography, handheld pictures can be very difficult to get sharp. Thankfully, between the calm of the butterfly and as steady of a hand as I could muster, this photo came out looking very clean.

100mm MACRO, 1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 500

Taken after a significant rain, this little guy was chilling on a chair enjoying the dewy aftermath.  This photo was taken on a chair and the fly thankfully relaxed long enough for me to catch the photo. Due to the remarkably small depth of field, multiple shots had to be taken before a clear one like this came out.

100mm MACRO, 1/200 sec., f/2.8, ISO 200

Fun fact, I don't particularly like being near, much less taking photos of, things that bite or sting. However, this little bugger was just chilling on the plant and I knew I had to get the shot. This picture was taken quickly, and I exited the location even quicker.

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While trekking through the creek near my childhood home, I happened across this incredible butterfly, whose wings are designed to deter predators with a unique eye-design. I haven't seen a butterfly like this since!

300mm, 1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

While visiting at my parent's house, I found this beautiful orb spider resting on the web she wove.  She was already snacking on one of her prey when I got this picture, notice the food between her fangs. She was kind enough to let me get a few unobstructive pictures of her before I let her get back to her dinner. Due to nighttime conditions, and the use of a macro lens, I utilized a flash to get enough light for the picture needed.

100mm MACRO, 1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 3200

For those that may not know, butterfly lenses are incredibly complex. They can have up to 17,000 separate lenses per eye. This allows for a nearly 360 degree viewing angle. That was certainly obvious when I attempted to photograph them at the Texas Discovery Gardens in Dallas. Butterflies love to flutter around and that can make it difficult to photograph them, especially if they can see the camera. Thankfully, this one was resting between feeding on different flowers and posed for me. If you look closely, you can see some of its lenses in the picture. Butterflies are truly magnificent creatures!

100mm MACRO, 1/125 sec., f/10, ISO 6400

Dallas' Butterfly Gardens are a beautiful spot to find a variety of butterflies without having to run around chasing them. I happened to catch this little fella resting on the stone next to me and I very carefully got into a position where I could take this photo. Thank you for obliging, friend!

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Fire ants were my worst nightmare growing up. I was severely allergic to them and they were a menace. So what the heck, I decided to take a picture of one. It was in our mutual best interest for us to not disturb each other, and so I promptly took this picture and left her alone. Queen ants like this scour around in the late spring preparing to build a colony. May she succeed anywhere where I'm not.

100mm MACRO, 1/250 sec., f/4.5, ISO 800

Another dragonfly classic, this photo boasts vibrant greens of the dragonfly against the more muted greenery around it. There are sharp details in its wings if you look closely, and its pattern is easily discernable in this photo.

300mm, 1/200 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

I love the detail in this photo. The design of the wings, the spots on the butterfly's eyes, the way the legs hold the leaf it sits on, and the antennas! This little guy was resting from a hard day's work flying around.

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Climbing a steep rock wall, this kudzu stink bug rested just long enough for me to capture this picture. Unfortunately, stink bugs like this are considered a signficant agricultural pest, but they are harmless to humans.

100mm MACRO, 1/640 sec., f/4.5, ISO 800

I'm known for my love of photographing dragonflies, and this is a series of them. In this one, you can see fine details in its wings and thorax.

300mm, 1/200 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

Another favorite from the Dallas Butterfly Garden, this little butterfly was resting on a rock near where I sat to rest. The rich color in its wings and the beautiful spotted pattern on the wingtips were too good to pass up for a photo opportunity. You can also clearly see the design on the butterfly's thorax and in its eyes.

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This grumpy looking guy was found in Central Texas during a family visit. This crab spider has enormous legs, and she was simply enjoying life while I took some photos. Taken during the day, there was thankfully enough sunlight to capture a good photo without compromising too much photo quality.

100mm MACRO, 1/400 sec., f/6.3, ISO 800

This dragonfly had more muted colors, with impressively-sized eyes. The dainty hold it has on the leaf it sits on highlights the flighty and delicate nature of these beautiful insects.

300mm, 1/200 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

This little flower fly was bouncing around a lot, so I was so happy to catch this photo! The striking evolutionary colors of the fly, mimicking other insects like wasps, create a standout photo against the pure white background. In the very quick moment she rested, I got a picture I can be proud of. She wasn't quite as hidden from the camera as she may have thought.

100mm MACRO, 1/640 sec., f/4.5, ISO 400

The trick to wildlife photography is being still and paying attention to the world around you. That's especially true for the little creatures on the ground. I happened to catch a glimpse of this hopper by accident on one of my treks. I love the detail you can see in its wings and in the ground it sits on.

280mm, 1/200 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

Another dragonfly shot in the portfolio shows off a vibrant green coat during a summer's day. Details are crisp on its wings and throughout its body.

300mm, 1/200 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100