I was out for sleeping insects, and dawn is the best time to find them. It also allows me to mix ambient light with flash illumination in a pleasing way!

Small changes in the angle of the shot result in massive differences in the background. Compare this shot near the sun…

To this shot a few degrees away.

I am always excited to find new things. Here are a couple sleeping bees I have never seen before!

They sleep like many bees I have seen; gripping the vegetation with their mandibles.

I have no idea what these are, so if you have ID suggestions, let me know!

Whatever they are, they are gorgeous!

A bit of nudging got this one to grip the top of the flower.

Of course I could not have a dawn shoot without a Coelioxys!

I found this garter snake under a log.

A closeup with an unusually cooperative model.

I like to donate blood to those in need. This is Aedes dorsalis. 

There were a bunch of these red clover casebearer adults (Coleophora deauratella) hanging out. I assume they must begin mating before dawn.

For some reason, it is really hard to get a photo to convey their bright metallic wing scales! I will keep working at it!