C.A.Creighton Photography
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cacreighton.bsky.social
C.A.Creighton Photography
@cacreighton.bsky.social
1.2K followers 1.1K following 150 posts
Nature/Wildlife Macro and Black&White Photographer working with OM/Olympus OM1 and OM lenses. Sound studio operator/engineer with my Producer/artist Wife Ruth Wyand and electric/acoustic guitar repairman and builder.
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cacreighton.bsky.social
C.A.Creighton Photography @cacreighton.bsky.social · Jan 30
'Portrait of a Noble'

Image made from a photograph taken at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Oceanville NJ (US) 12/8/24 at 2:20pm With Ruth Wyand

Great Blue Heron decked out in it's best finery on a cold and windy day.

OM1 OM150-600mm+MC20 FL1200mm 1/2000sec f13 ISO6400

#Birds
cacreighton.bsky.social
On the sound side of Jockey's Ridge a Great Egret taking flight.

9/13/25 Nags Head NC (US)
OM1 OM 40-150 + MC14 1/3200sec. f6.3
October 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
"The Ant and the Little Blue Flower"
This guy and his blue friend are from our garden Colington Island. The flower is a Climbing Dayflower (Commelina diffusa). The ant is a Barbary Harvester Ant (Messor barbarus).

OM1 OM 90 macro w/MC20 1/100sec F14 July 25 2025

#macro
#macroaddicts
"The Ant and the Little Blue Flower" The title to a children's book that hasn't been written 😊. This guy and his blue friend are from our garden on Colington Island. The flower is a Climbing Dayflower (Commelina diffusa). The ant is a Barbary Harvester Ant (Messor barbarus) which can carry 20 times their body weight 😮. Their called harvester ants because among other things they eat seeds. Some farming practices bring them in to control weeds. But the home owner who cares about their lawn may not appreciate that they particularly like grass seeds. Another trait they have that is problematic is they will bite if disturbed so avoid contact. Ruth was bitten by one and her hand swelled up. She's fine but who knew? Fire ants yeah but these cute little guys, avoid. OM1 OM 90 macro w/MC20 1/100sec F14 July 25 2025
September 16, 2025 at 9:55 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
On a very young sunflower blossom is a Feather Legged Scoliid(not a typo),Wasp(Deilis plumipes), a pollinating nectar lover low key, can sting but rarely does, they are not interested in you.
Colington Island August 17, 2025
OM1 OM 90mm macro + MC20 1/100sec F13
#macro
#macroaddicts
#wildlife
August 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
Roseate Skimmer wings as optical lens. I don't often work in full sunlight but I'm glad I did since it's the most likely time to find the Roseate Skimmer out and about.
#macroaddicts
#wildlife
#macrophotography

Colington Island NC (US) July 26, 2025 OM1 OM 90mm macro w/MC20 1/100sec f14
Roseate Skimmer wings as optical lens. I don't often work in full sunlight but I'm glad I did since it's the most likely time to find the Roseate Skimmer out and about. It likes the heat while other dragonflies prefer the early morning and afternoon during the summer. This is most likely a female as the males are very colorful with deep shades of pink purplish like colors on the their thorax and abdomen while the female has a more subdued brown hues with a long dark stripe down it's back. The males do a unique courtship dance showing off their flying abilities and brilliant coloring to attract females. They are a native species and can be found as far south as Brazil. As with other dragonflies and damselflies they consume mass quantities of mosquitoes which is far better than the ridiculous chemical sprays towns still use which kills mosquitoes and many other beneficial things reducing the food source for dragonflies and in turn dragonflies themselves. The Big Stupid Cycle. You don't want to be bitten by mosquitoes spray yourself. Colington Island NC (US) July 26, 2025 OM1 OM 90mm macro w/MC20 1/100sec f14 See less — with Ruth Wyand at Colington Island.
August 14, 2025 at 9:27 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
This is a Greybird Grasshopper (Schistocerca nitens). It's in the Nymph stage the adult is much larger and will molt until it achieves its final form.
In our garden on Colington Island NC (US).
OM1 OM 90mm macro + MC20 1/250sec f7.1 no flash
#macro
#macroadditcts
#wildlifephotography
In small doses the Greybird Grasshopper (Schistocerca nitens) in the Short Horned Grasshopper family can cause mild defoliation nibbling on leaves and fruits but in swarms, which I've only heard about, they can devastate an entire crop reducing food security a lot. But they look good doing it. This is in the Nymph stage and has not developed wings yet, reproductive capability or final coloration but it can eat. The adult is much larger and will molt until it achieves its final form. In our garden on Colington Island NC (US). OM1 OM 90mm macro + MC20 1/250sec f7.1 no flash
August 7, 2025 at 4:28 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
Ok children today's class is about sex.
These are two Milkweed Assassin Bugs (Zelus longipes) part of the Assassin Bug family (Reduviidae) working on making babies.
OM1 OM 90mm macro + MC20 1/100sec f14 w/flash
July 26, 2025 Colington Island NC (US) in our backyard garden.
#macro
#macroaddicts
Ok children today's class is about sex. These are two Milkweed Assassin Bugs (Zelus longipes) part of the Assassin Bug family (Reduviidae) working on making babies. Don't be alarmed they have an ominous name but are highly beneficial to any garden as they like to eat aphids, beetles, some spiders,(some larger spiders eat them, it's a tough world) caterpillars, leaf hoppers and mites. They are generally beneficial to plants. A unique ability they have is using a sticky substance on their legs to catch prey which is uncommon to non web producing critters. If you trace their legs it will make sense and you'll be able to tell their antennae apart. I flipped the image sideways for a better view otherwise it would make you dizzy 😊. OM1 OM 90mm macro + MC20 1/100sec f14 w/flash July 26, 2025 Colington Island NC (US) in our backyard garden.
August 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
A Black Shield Bug like the Green one from earlier but not green. Still stinky if it feels threatened. In our wildflowers on Colington Island NC (US) on June 13, 2025. It's got eyes like a '30s automobile 😄.
OM1 OM 90mm macro + MC20 1/125sec f14
#macro
#macrophotography
#macroaddicts
#wildlife
July 31, 2025 at 12:51 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
Ruth Wyand and I on Ocracoke Island Ramp 72 March 24, 2026 wandering to the beach and back. Among the plentiful selection this Great Egret had had enough feeding for a while and was heading back to roost in the marsh woods.
OM1 OM 150-600 1/3200 f5.2
#birds
#wildlife
#landscape&wildlife
July 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
I found a couple of mushrooms growing on my garden gate on Colington Island NC (US) July 20,2025. They are called Rusty Gilled Polypore (Gloeophyllum sepiarium) and are found on dead conifer wood.
OM1 OM 90mm + MC20 1/00secW/flash f14 30-35 frame focus bracket.
#macrophotography
#macroaddicts
I found a couple of mushrooms growing on my garden gate on Colington Island NC (US) July 20,2025. They are called Rusty Gilled Polypore (Gloeophyllum sepiarium) and are found on dead conifer wood. They are considered inedible. They can grow singly or in clusters. In mushroom terms they can be considered gregarious 😊 which I found to be pretty funny use of the term. The enlargements show relative size to the screw head and how furry they are. OM1 OM 90mm + MC20 1/00secW/flash f14 30-35 frame focus bracket. I found a couple of mushrooms growing on my garden gate on Colington Island NC (US) July 20,2025. They are called Rusty Gilled Polypore (Gloeophyllum sepiarium) and are found on dead conifer wood. They are considered inedible. They can grow singly or in clusters. In mushroom terms they can be considered gregarious 😊 which I found to be pretty funny use of the term. The enlargements show relative size to the screw head and how furry they are. OM1 OM 90mm + MC20 1/00secW/flash f14 30-35 frame focus bracket. I found a couple of mushrooms growing on my garden gate on Colington Island NC (US) July 20,2025. They are called Rusty Gilled Polypore (Gloeophyllum sepiarium) and are found on dead conifer wood. They are considered inedible. They can grow singly or in clusters. In mushroom terms they can be considered gregarious 😊 which I found to be pretty funny use of the term. The enlargements show relative size to the screw head and how furry they are. OM1 OM 90mm + MC20 1/00secW/flash f14 30-35 frame focus bracket.
July 29, 2025 at 1:44 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
Ruth and I were at the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge in Oceanville NJ (US) on Dec 6, 2024. We spotted this Great Blue Heron laser focused on a fish in the water waiting for his moment. Life goes on.
OM1 OM 150-600 + MC20 1/8000sec f11

#birds
#wildlife
#landscape&wildlife
On a bitterly cold day in December (2024) the 6th to be exact Ruth and I were at the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge in Oceanville NJ (US). There was a lot of action that day and among many birds we spotted this Great Blue Heron laser focused on a fish in the water waiting for his moment. It was fast to say the least and he had no trouble gulping him down. Life goes on. OM1 OM 150-600 + MC20 1/8000sec f11
July 28, 2025 at 2:13 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
Chris Creighton is at Colington Harbour, Colington Island NC
I dropped in recently (July 17 2025) on my territorial Damselfly a Ramburs Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) having a snack in our backyard garden.
OM1 OM 90mm macro 1/00sec/w/flash f14 9 frame focus stack
#macrophotography
#macroaddicts
Chris Creighton is at Colington Harbour, Colington Island Nc. eonsrdptSo06 1 3 gm8 0 9t a A umh176 f a 2aha4 Y 0   r 73 e 3 t f y : l0 e 5 0 s d 1 M t a · Kill Devil Hills · Shared with Public I dropped in recently (July 17 2025) on my territorial Damselfly a Ramburs Forktail/Bluetail (Ischnura ramburii) having a snack in our backyard garden. Not sure what he or she is eating but it was a flying insect. Their hunting/flying skills are reknown only paralleled by their cousins the Dragonfly. This one seems to have picked up some hitchhikers in the form of Immature Water Mite larvae in sacs attached to it’s side. They feed off the Damselfly until maturity and then drop off and eventually become free roaming predators in a pond of their choice. Thanks to Amber Roth and Geevee Snow for their water mite info contribution. I had no idea what they were. 😮 Nature provides constant fascination and a certain amount of irony. OM1 OM 90mm macro 1/00sec/w/flash f14 9 frame focus stack
July 26, 2025 at 1:25 AM
cacreighton.bsky.social
Chris Creighton
July 18 2025 On Colington Island in North Carolina (US) I spotted a Squirrel Frog (Dryophytes sqirellus), a type of tree frog, on a fence ledge.
OM1 OM 90mm macro + MC20 1/100sec/w flash f14
#Landscape&Wildlife
#Wildlifephotography
#Macrophotography
#Macroaddicts
Chris Creighton is at Colington Island. Ssnerpoodtl326hu4327 4 8i910a84m59l15l0a04fgiui0u2l01mcii40 h 0f · Kill Devil Hills · Shared with Public Just before going in for the night on July 18 2025 after bug hunting in my garden on Colington Island in North Carolina (US) I spotted a Squirrel Frog (Dryophytes sqirellus), a type of tree frog, on a fence ledge. They are nocturnal and eat bugs near lighted areas. They have a very distinctive squirrel like chirp and a raspy call from the males that they do just before and during rainfall. (sometimes referred to as a 'rain frog') Who needs a weatherman to tell you when the rain falls, or something like that. It is quite a choral experience and loud 😄. Pretty common along the Outer Banks and range from Southern Virginia to Southeastern Texas along the coastal plain. They come in various colors of lime green that kind of glows , tan, brown with and without spotting and will change color to match their location. I particularly like the 'gold leaf' markings on front and back legs. Eyes have a bronze circle with a black center. This one didn't stay around for long, it had an appointment to get to so no frontal portrait. OM1 OM 90mm macro + MC20 1/100sec/w flash f14
July 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
This is a colorful pollinator wasp without a common name from the Mason Wasps referred to as Parancistrocerus histrio. My ID isn't 100% positive. This is at the Butterfly Garden in Kill Devil Hills NC (US) on May 20th 2025
OM1 OM 90mm Macro +MC14 w/flash 100sec f14

#macro #macroaddicts #wildlife
This is a colorful pollinator wasp without a common name from the family of Mason Wasps referred to as Parancistrocerus histrio. My ID isn't 100% positive but at worst it is very close. Not particularly aggressive really focused on the job at hand extracting nectar for food. This is at the Butterfly Garden in Kill Devil Hills NC (US) on May 20th 2025. OM1 OM 90mm Macro +MC14 w/flash at 100sec f14
July 17, 2025 at 10:07 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
Bean Flower

From our garden on Colington Island NC (US).
A bush bean to be exact. July 12, 2025

OM1 OM 90mm macro + MC20 125sec. f14 18 frame focus bracket.
July 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
Chris Creighton is with Judy Marie and Jim Alton in Somers Point, NJ.

July 3, 2025 under the Somers Point Ocean City Bridge. A White Ibis in flight. (Eudocimus albus) a wading bird

OM1 OM 40mm-150mm + MC14 1/4000sec f14

#birds
#landscape&wildlife
#wildlifephotography
Chris Creighton is with Judy Marie and Jim Alton in Somers Point, NJ. July 3, 2025 under the Somers Point Ocean City Bridge NJ (US). A White Ibis in flight. (Eudocimus albus) a wading bird eats crustaceans, crayfish, crabs, insects, snails, frogs, marine worms, snakes, small fish. Gathers in flocks and prefers salt marshes but can be found in fresh water on the coast if the food is there. Lives from South Jersey to South East and South West Texas down to Northern South America to Cuba across to West Coast of Mexico. OM1 OM 40mm-150mm + MC14 1/4000sec f14
July 13, 2025 at 5:51 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
My first Monarch (Danaus plexippus) of the season seen at The Rookery by the Somers Point Ocean City Bridge Somers Point NJ (US).
July 3, 2025 OM1 OM 40mm-150mm 2.8 +MC14 f7.1
#omsystems
#omsystemsambassador
#butterflys
#insects
#naturephotography
My first Monarch (Danaus plexippus) of the season seen at The Rookery by the Somers Point Ocean City Bridge Somers Point NJ (US). The Monarch finds good plants for laying eggs by sensing the suitability with their feet. They are best known for their 3000 mile migration that takes 4 generations to complete so finding good plants is pretty vital. They also tend to not to be eaten often since they eat milkweed which is poisonous and makes predators vomit. July 3, 2025 OM1 OM 40mm-150mm 2.8 +MC14 f7.1
July 11, 2025 at 11:46 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
On July 3 Judy, Jim and I went birding under the Somers Point / Ocean City Bridge Somers Point NJ (US) by the visitors center. Here is portrait of a wise looking White Ibis that I waited patiently to look my way.
OM1 OM 40-150 2.8 + MC14
1/4000sec f7.1 ISO 4000

#birds
#wildlife
#nature
#wadingbird
July 8, 2025 at 6:51 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
On Colington Island NC (US) June 17, 2025 on a wildflower bud a beautiful, delicate Damselfly takes a rest. Better known as Rambur's Forktail or(Ischnura ramburii) in a family of narrow winged damselflies.
OM1 OM 90mm + MC20 natural light
#macro
#damselfly
#insects
#nature
June 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
May 4, 2025 at the Rookery under the Somers Point Ocean City Bridge NJ (US). Lots of wading birds nest building and mate searching. I followed this Yellow Crowned Night Heron as it meandered through the brush. It never quite turned around, shy I guess.
OM1 OM 150mm-600mm

#birds
#wildlife
#heron
June 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
A Southern Green Shield Bug a species of Stink bugs. This one is Nezara viridula, great name for a antagonist in a novel.

Colington Harbour NC (US) June 12, 2025
OM1 OM 90mm + Godox 860iii Flash

#macro
#insects
#bugs
#nature
A rare event when I've been able to photograph the top side and bottom side of an insect. In this case a Southern Green Shield Bug a species of Stink bugs. This one is Nezara viridula, great name for a antagonist in a novel. It will, when threatened, release an unpleasant odor from glands on its abdomen which you can see in the underside images. Colington Harbour NC (US) June 12, 2025 OM1 OM 90mm + Godox 860iii Flash A rare event when I've been able to photograph the top side and bottom side of an insect. In this case a Southern Green Shield Bug a species of Stink bugs. This one is Nezara viridula, great name for a antagonist in a novel. It will, when threatened, release an unpleasant odor from glands on its abdomen which you can see in the underside images. Colington Harbour NC (US) June 12, 2025 OM1 OM 90mm + Godox 860iii Flash A rare event when I've been able to photograph the top side and bottom side of an insect. In this case a Southern Green Shield Bug a species of Stink bugs. This one is Nezara viridula, great name for a antagonist in a novel. It will, when threatened, release an unpleasant odor from glands on its abdomen which you can see in the underside images. Colington Harbour NC (US) June 12, 2025 OM1 OM 90mm + Godox 860iii Flash
June 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
May 4, 2025 with Lonnie and Geoff Thomas at the Rookery Somers Point/Ocean City Bridge NJ (US) an unlicensed builder building a nest without permits as it should be 😄. A Great Egret preparing for a family. Look at the crossing vertical and horizontal pieces.
OM1 OM 150mm-600mm #birds #egret
May 4, 2025 with Lonnie and Geoff Thomas at the Rookery Somers Point/Ocean City Bridge NJ (US) an unlicensed builder building a nest without permits as it should be 😄. A Great Egret preparing for a family. Looking at the crossing vertical and horizontal pieces this guy knows what he's doing albeit without insurance. OM1 OM 150mm-600mm
June 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
A Snowy Egret goes rock & roll in the rain 🙂.
May 4 2025 at Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge Oceanville NJ-Brigantine Island NJ (US)

OM1 OM 150mm-600mm

#Birds
#wildlife
#egrets
#wadingbirds
May 26, 2025 at 1:29 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
A fan favorite of my fellow beach dwellers the Osprey in this case a (pandion haliaetus carolinensis). With Geoff, Lonnie and Tom May 4 2025.

OM1 OM 150mm-600mm See less
— with Lonnie Thomas and Thomas Downs at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

#Birds #birds #osprey #shorebirds #raptors
A fan favorite of my fellow beach dwellers the Osprey in this case a (pandion haliaetus carolinensis). Not my first Osprey image or my last but one that shows the classic bend at the 'wrist' that Ospreys employ to cruise. This is unique to Osprey within the raptor category. Osprey are neither eagle or hawk but in there own separate class. Their talons are unique also in that they have a reversable outer toe allowing them to apply two toes to the front and two to the rear. They have barbed talon pads and hooked talons so with long legs they are very suited to diving into the water feet first to extract large fish. With Geoff, Lonnie and Tom May 4 2025. OM1 OM 150mm-600mm See less — with Lonnie Thomas and Thomas Downs at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
May 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
A very pretty shore bird in South Jersey (US) a Short-billed Dowitcher. Very much a wetlands bird. Spotted with Geoff Thomas, Lonnie Thomas, and Tom Downs. May 4, 2025 OM1 OM 150mm-600mm

#birds #Birds #wildlife #shorebirds
A very pretty shore bird in South Jersey (US) a Short-billed Dowitcher often confused with the Long-billed Dowitcher. Though when they flock together the differences become more noticeable. The bill on the long bill is obviously a little longer and the short bill has a flatter back with a whitish belly. Their calls are also distinctive from one another. The Short-billed lets out a series of low pitched 'tu-tu-tu's where as the Long-billed lets out a single 'keek'. Very much a wetlands bird. Spotted with Geoff Thomas, Lonnie Thomas, and Tom Downs. May 4, 2025 OM1 OM 150mm-600mm See less — with Lonnie Thomas and Thomas Downs at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
May 23, 2025 at 8:43 PM
cacreighton.bsky.social
A Bald Eagle launching into flight. May 4, 2025 at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in South Jersey (US) near Brigantine Island and later at the Ocean City Somers Point Rookery.
OM1 OM 150-600
#birds
#wildlife
#eagles
#birdsofprey
A Bald Eagle launching into flight. A truly beautiful and majestic bird that has powerful survival instincts. It will eat virtually any meat available whether as a predator or thief and even carrion. It is opportunistic as it is a very effective hunter on it's own whether diving from great heights or cruising low and slow for the element of surprise but will attempt to steal from other predators such as Osprey. I saw this with Lonnie Thomas, Geoff Thomas and Tom Downs on a very successful but soggy birding excursion on May 4, 2025 at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in South Jersey near Brigantine Island and later at the Ocean City Somers Point Rookery. OM1 OM 150-600 It's wings are spread out and up at a 45 degree angle, talons open and extended back and down it's white capped head is thrust forward with it's claw like yellow beak leading the way from a dead tree thats next to a very full live tree. It has white tail feathers and dark colored wings, chest and undercarriage.
May 6, 2025 at 5:51 PM