Things I Learned While Doing Photography

Since embarking on my newfound passion of photography early this spring, not only has my photography improved, but I have learned some other things along the way:


Insect repellent is an oxymoron. All that insect repellent seems to do is just slow them down a bit. They will find you tasty no matter what you have put on your skin and clothing.

Protective clothing against insects does nothing. Just makes 'em more determined. They go by the adage of "Where there is a will, there is a way". They WILL find their way through the clothing.

Bees and wasps find you most interesting when you have forgotten the epinephrine. Corollary: Bees and wasps will pretty much ignore you when you have the epinephrine handy.

Direct sunlight does not deter mosquitoes. Only works with vampires and perhaps the more wimpy mosquitoes.

Being stuck in the mud takes on a whole new meaning when you literally can't get out of a mud pool and keep falling back in several times.

Look before you leap into that swamp to take a picture of that nice looking spatterdock. There is a lot to be said for tempering enthusiasm for a good photo.

You stop caring what people think about you carrying around a big black umbrella because you were dumb enough to forget to bring your hat and were genetically cursed with very light blue eyes and sunglasses just isn't enough for the bright sunlight.

You stop caring what people think about you sitting in a swamp taking a picture of that nice looking bladderwort.

You stop caring about what people think about you covered from head to toe in mud from falling several times in the mud pool because after all, you got a picture of that nice saprophyte.

There exists a linear relationship between the number of insect/arachnid bites you must endure and how bad you want to photograph a certain subject matter.