PHOTOS OF FIREFLIES

Title: On the Top, 2017
Image ID: 170521_391

Firefly Illuminating Grass in my Garden. Single Exposure. Fairfield, Iowa.

Title: Thistle, 2018

Firefly Illuminating Thistle. Single Exposure.

Title: Milky Way, 2017

Fireflies and Milky Way. Single Twenty Second Exposure.

Title: Delicate Light, 2017

Gracefully Glowing in a Delicate Light. Single Exposure.

Title: A Flash of Hope, 2017

Firefly Illuminating Wood Anemone Wildflower. Single Exposure.

Title: Alishan Mountain, 2017
Image ID: 152270

Alishan Mountain Waterfall with Fireflies, Taiwan. Multiple 30 second exposures.

Title: Misty Dream, 2016

Fireflies during misty night with black-eyed-Susans, Fairfield, Iowa. Multiple 30-second exposures.

Title: Path (horizontal), 2016

Synchronous fireflies from The Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Multiple 30 second exposures.

Title: Path (vertical), 2016
Image ID: 139723

Synchronous fireflies from The Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Multiple 30 second exposures.

Title: Mystical Lantern, 2016

Mystical lantern firefly (Photuris mysticalampas) in the Atlantic white cedar forest in Delaware. This is a very magical species that glows very slowly in the swampy forest, and gives you feeling like you were among fairies.

I took the photo in June with Christopher Heckscher, PhD. who was the first to discover, name and describe this species. Photuris mysticalampas is possibly endangered by habitat loss, since it lives most likely in very small area. I was happy to help document it. Note the rising moon in the photo.

Multiple 30 second exposures.

Title: Path to Heaven, 2016

From The Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Single 12 minute exposure around 11 p.m. with cloud illumination. While many of my photos turn blue, later at night, long exposures can start to have more yellow or golden tint.

Title: As Above, so Below, 2016

This is photo from Fairfield, IA. Single exposure. Color adjusted.

Title: Moon Solitude, 2016
Image ID: 160720_8338

Single Exposure at the end of summer, South East Iowa.

Title: Gathering of Souls, 2014

Souls of many countries, nations and celestial bodies have gathered to experience the unique natural phenomena - The Synchronous Fireflies. This image is a result of about ten minutes of consequent exposures.

Title: Clover Moon, 2012

I took this photo during a full moon, the moon was still close to the horizon, and it had beautiful color.

Title: Chinese Lantern, 2012

Chinese Lantern is common name of this Photuris firefly species. I have observed unique behavior when I was taking this photo. As the firefly lit up, it would bend its lower abdomen almost 90 degrees down, almost touching the leave. It gave me enough time to snap this photo, in almost complete darkness inside a forest.

Title: Magical Forest, 2012

This is a single exposure of fireflies dancing in the forest. Notice that some of the fireflies have different colors. Some are orange, which signifies different species of fireflies.

Title: Quiet Glow, 2009

A firefly illuminating on a basil leaf; the photo was taken in my garden.

Title: Light behind Leaf, 2012

Title: Basil Shine, 2008

Firefly Species: Photinus pyralis

Title: Step into the Light, 2011

Title: Pathway through the Night, 2010

Title: Blue Flight, 2011

Title: Amber Firefly

Title: Sunset

Damselfly and Firefly

Title: Firefly and Moon

In this photo you can see illuminated firefly and a moon filtered through tall grasses. To take this photo, I have waited for the right day when moon was low on the horizon and climbed deep into a ditch below the road so I would get a lower angle and a direct view of the moon through the grass.

Firefly species: Photinus Pyralis "The big dipper"

Title: Path to the Stars
Image ID: 69096

This image is not a composite. The red hue in the sky with the stars is caused by light pollution in the nearby city, predominately lit by incandescent light bulbs. The camera exposure was about 30 seconds long.

Title: Peacemaker

Title: Grass Forest

Title: Tiny Superhero

Title: Bioluminescent Glow

Title: The Surfer

Title: The Glassblower

Title: Balance

Title: Summer Thunderstorm with Lighting Bugs

This was a single exposure. The illumination of clouds was caused by lightning. Clouds became elongated due to long exposure. One firefly launched to the space.

Title: Summer Moon
Image ID: 69122

Multiple exposures combined into one. The moon illuminates the meadow with fireflies.

Title: Firefly and Mosquito
Image ID: 71613

Wow. It was getting really dark, and I could hardly see the firefly through my viewfinder. Suddenly I noticed a mosquito to land on a firefly. It stayed on its back for about a minute and left. I wonder what they talked about?

Title: Blue Ghost, 2014

Firefly Species: Phausis reticulata

Enigmatic Blue Ghost Firefly
Something inspired me to climb to an overlook in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, despite darkness creeping slowly in and I was the last one on the mountain. On the way up I froze in my tracks when I saw a large black bear on the path. He saw me and quietly disappeared in the shady growth. Hesitantly with quite a good deal of fear I continued up the overlook, looking around if I see the bear. When I reached the overlook it was almost dark and I could see barely anything. I quickly started walking back so I can see my path and I slowed down in the spot where I saw the bear. I looked around, being quiet. Suddenly I saw little lights floating around. Within few minutes, in the small growth, I saw little fairies quietly glowing and floating around just above ferns. These are called Blue Ghost Fireflies, know by dim long lasting glow. Their glow can last for many seconds, even up to a minute. I started to photograph, and had a great experience. I have a feeling the bear knew the whole time where I was. I find this photo quite psychedelic. Enjoy.

Photo details: single exposure, 49.6 seconds long.

Title:Signaling Female, 2013

In this photograph is a female firefly of a common Midwest species Photinus Pyralis. This female is sending a signal so her future mate can find her. Notice that her signal light is focused to the small "box" shape area in her abdomen, contrary to male fireflies, that have larger light organs.

I am particulary excited about the clarity of this image, which can be easily enlarged to a very large print.

Title: Day Lyli Bliss, 2013

I have noticed that fireflies peak around the same time as Day Lilys here in Iowa. This firefly looks like it is in bliss, surrounded by Day Lilys.

Title: Firefly During Daytime
Image ID: 71302

Fireflies are not very active during the day.