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Those of you who know me will find it very odd that I actually attempted to get some shots of bees the other day. Even more shocking is that I went with my MP-E 65 instead of the 180L- which is what I normally use when stalking bees. The thing is, I am absolutely terrified of things with wings and stingers. However, I am beginning to warm up to bees and I have found that they generally don’t mind me taking their picture while they are busy gathering pollen.
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2563813008_e991ba6be9_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="IMG_1958" /></a>)
Recently I gave a presentation on macro photography for several of my coworkers. I have been trying to figure out how to easily get it into blog format, but it’s rather difficult converting a Powerpoint presentation into a blog. The following are some tips I placed at the end of the presentation on macro photography.
Tip #1 – Keep in mind the orientation of the subject
The following are two pictures I took recently. Note that the first isn’t very interesting. You can easily make out that it’s a hoverfly but other than that the shot brings no emotion. The second picture is quite a bit better – not only due to the reflection of the bug but also because the bug is facing forward. In general always try to find a pose that is interesting – don’t just take the bug unless you are trying for an identification shot.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2513267173_ba15734e7f_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Hoverfly" /></a>)
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/2510801719_12b0c40a71_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Green Stink Bug" /></a>)
Most of us are very familiar with the hoverfly. Their flight patterns are very recognizable and have flustered generations of photographers attempting to get one in flight. As they stay in the same place for short periods of time, it is very tempting to try to get a picture of one in flight. This photographer was tempting by one over the weekend. Alas, the hoverfly one and I wound up with all of one out of focus picture that was quickly deleted. Still, I managed to get a few half way decent ones of the hoverfly landed.
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2514092246_bc40fcef1a_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Hoverfly" /></a>)
I don’t like the white background at all in this shot, but I had to take what the fly provided. I tried photographing another two other hoverflies in more photogenic areas but none of the shots turned out. Note that whenever taking insects on a white background, make sure to dial up the MT-24EX a stop or two. Otherwise the picture will show up as too dark due to the metering in the camera. This picture is close to the brightness of the original, but previous shots I took were too dark.
After reading a bit though, I never knew how beneficial these flies truly are.
Not much to say today, but I thought I would discuss some more photos I took by my building at work.
I found this small centipede in some leaf litter I was going through and decided that was not the most photogenic place for it. Therefore I found this flower nearby and placed it on top. The centipede seemed rather confused and wandered around the flower for a bit, before I placed it back in the leaf litter. It’s probably the equivalent of someone putting us an Mars – we would likely wonder – “where the heck are we?” (note: I am assuming whoever did it was kind enough to give us a space suit or else we wouldn’t have much time to think).
While most flies tend to be extremely annoying, they are a boon for us macro photographers. The reason is they are simply everywhere. It is not difficult to find a fly, and on some days when it seems I can’t find anything, there’s always a fly there to help. Of course, with some flies it can be tricky to get close enough to get a shot – especially when you go above 1x. This is even trickier when the fly is on a leaf and you need to make sure not to bump anything. For the majority of flies I try to photograph I never get a shot or if I get a shot then it’s not clear. Some flies only allow me to take a single shot – then they take off.
During a recent outing in the ponds next to my work, I found several flies and managed to successfully photography them. This is the first one I found.
A few days ago while examining my patio furniture for more insects after my last find, I found some interesting critters on a chair cover. My first reaction is it’s a springtail, but I’m not entirely sure.
It certainly looks like a springtail, but I couldn’t find any pictures resembling it on the identification site for springtails. (Update: after posting this shot on Flickr I have found out that it is not a springtail but a juvenile Hemiptera) Speaking of the patio furniture, I find it quite interesting that it’s so popular with insects. I would be curious to know what they find so interesting with patio furniture covers. I just hope when the weather gets better they still find the patio furniture itself to be interesting – as right now it is one of the best places in my yard to find things.
We’ve finally had some good weather over here, so I took the opportunity to photograph the ponds next to my building. While rummaging in some leaves, I found a very interesting beetle. It didn’t seem like it wanted to do much of anything so it was more than happy to let me take some pictures of it – including letting me place it in some more photographic areas and in general annoy it.
After spending time researching this in my insect books, I found that this is a Ellychnia corrusca, or Winter Firefly. Wow! A firefly! I was instantly excited. Unfortunately this particular firefly cannot emit light in the adult stage – just when it is a larva.
While walking around my yard taking pictures of insects several days ago, I noticed a spot on the cover of one of our yard chairs. I didn’t think much of it and continued to photograph other things. Some time later I looked at the chair again but for some reason the “spot” seemed to be in a different place. I shook it off as a misperception and continued to find other things to photograph. When I came back to the same chair and noticed the spot was in a different place, I began to think this was more than meets the eye. I watched the spot for a minute and noticed that it was slowly moving. This was no spot, but instead was a fascinating bug that I have long hoped to get a picture of. Therefore I proudly introduce the debris-carrying larva of a lacewing.
However, as will soon be evident, this highly beneficial bug has a rather macabre habit.
Two weeks ago I had the time to take a number of shots outside and had the chance to get two flies (OK, two of them are March flies). This one looks like it was laughing at me.
Actually the more I see flies up close, the more I want them to stay away from my food. Flies use their tongues to eat, meaning if they stay long enough on my food and I eat it that I am eating fly saliva – not a pleasant thought. Two other shots I took that day I was quite happy with.
Last weekend for the first time we actually had a brief period of good weather, lasting from Saturday morning to early Sunday afternoon. In Seattle parlance, this was our “spring”. Most likely some day in late July or August will be our “summer”. Given the nice weather, Eitan and Nathan wanted to go outside to collect more ants for their ant farm so of course I obliged. However, after being outside for a few minutes Eitan pointed to something that made me stop.
Yes, this would be my first opportunity to photograph insect porn. In particular these were March flies, which in previous posts I have already photographed. That day the weather must have been perfect for this opportunity, as it did not take long to find more couples in the act. Naturally I was very excited and rushed to grab my camera – taking several shots only to figure out that I had left my flash card downstairs. After deciding the shots would come out better with a flash card, I proceeded to take a number of shots of the couple in action.
Therefore if you feel that you will be offended by March flies in various gratuitous positions please do not turn the page.