View allAll Photos Tagged InsectPhotography
Today, I captured a Japanese cicada in my lens — a true symbol of summer days in Japan. These amazing insects spend most of their lives underground, emerging for just a few weeks to enjoy the sun and sing their melodic songs. Their enchanting trills create a unique atmosphere during Japanese summer evenings.
These two were at it on the leg of my tripod on a bug hunt in October. Not sure what he is waving at. Happy Fly Day Friday.
I am not sure what damaged this Sweat Bee's eye, but it is not unusual to see that kind of damage. The bee was acting normally, and flew off after it got tired of me sticking the camera into its face. Sweat Bees (Halictidae) are known to bed down together in groups, and there are over a dozen that are using one of my Geranium flowers as a hostel.
Possibly Halictus sexcinctus.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to over 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.
While harvesting Mason Bee cocoons they sometimes emerge as I'm taking them out of the cardboard tubes that I use for their nests. When it happens I coax them onto my finger so I can release them onto a flower for their first meal.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering with -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI, Denoise AI, and Clarity in that order.
I normally do not like to let the background go dark due to flash fall off, but this Sweat Bee was in a tricky spot and I did not want to spook the critter into taking off.
Possibly Halictus sexcinctus.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to under 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.
Cool, partly cloudy, weather creates the perfect conditions to go looking for solitary bees. When the sun goes behind the clouds they slow down. I managed to get a few frames of this Sweat Bee that was foraging for pollen in a Poppy before she took off. Image taken in Lago Patria, Italy.
Tech Specs: Canon 90D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -2/3 FEC. This is a single, slightly cropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order.
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This photo of a tiny spider was captured with a Fotodiox Canon RF Macro Bellows. Click here to learn more: fotodioxpro.com/collections/macro-bellow-mounts/products/...
I got lucky and found a snoozing Resin Bee. This is a new solitary bee for me as I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've photographed one. They look very similar to European Wool Carder Bees but the face is white instead of yellow.
Trachusa interrupta, male.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. I held the grass stalk close to a wall to keep the background from being black.
“Artists can color the sky red because they know it's blue. Those of us who aren't artists must color things the way they really are or people might think we're stupid.”
~ Jules Feiffer
The European Wool Carders Bees are back for another season in my Lavender. I thought getting up at 6AM would allow me to have plenty of time to photograph this little guy, but he started to get active as soon as I got close. Only took him a minute or so to get airborne even though the temps were around 19C (~66F).
Tech Specs: Canon 90D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -2/3 FEC. This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. I used an artificial flower to keep the background from being black.
this one's hit the jackpot, based on the coating on its proboscis
captured at a local butterfly conservatory
I stopped at Lago d'Averno and photographed this Violet Darter in the heat of the day. I know the habits and quirks of this species, so it's not too difficult to get right on top of them even when they are actively hunting.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT (E-TTL metering, -2/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. I post I used Topaz Sharpen AI, Denoise AI, and Clarity in that order.
Cool, partly cloudy weather makes the perfect conditions to photograph small solitary bees. I found this female Mining Bee foraging for pollen in a Dandelion. Gotta shoot them while I can because in a few short months they'll be gone for the year.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (almost 4x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. Cheap trick: There was a light colored marble wall behind the flower and I positioned the critter close to it so the light from the flash would bounce off of the wall and back into the camera. I like to avoid black backgrounds whenever possible to maintain the suspension of disbelief. Everyone is use to seeing bees during the day, so an image that has a black background looks like a night time shot. You might not consciously think "bees aren't out at night" but a part of your brain will think that the image is "off" and you won't be able to just relax and enjoy it.
Bountiful and plentiful food supplies for this caterpillar, looking nicely chunky, feeding on Hakea pupurea.
Feeds on various members of the plant family Proteaceae such as Hakea seen here and also Grevillea and Banksia.
Around 40 mm length.
Link to image of moth: www.flickr.com/photos/112623317@N03/53280154962/in/album-...
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This Female Sweat Bee is anchoring herself with her mandibles while she uses her front legs to strip pollen off of Sour Grass anthers and pack it around her back legs and abdomen. It is easier to take images like this one on windy days because the vibration induced by the breeze masks the vibration I cause when I grab onto the stem of the flower. Image taken in Bacoli, Italy in April of 2020.
Halictidae Lasioglossum
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC, second curtain sync). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.
OM System OM-1 + M.Zuiko 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO + Godox V860iii + Cygnustech flash diffuser - 42 shots focus stacked
Trithemis annulata | Libélula-púrpura | Violet Dropwing
(Macho / Male)
Herdade dos Grous, Beja - Alentejo, Portugal
2016
Photo by Luís Salvador
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Website: www.herdade-dos-grous.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/herdadedos.grous.3/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/nature_herdadedosgrous/
I found this male Blue Mason on a Dandelion but there were a lot or stamen in the way so I couldn't get a clear shot. So I coaxed the critter onto my finger and took a few frames before he warmed up enough to take off. This time of year it's easy to find small solitary bees that are easy to approach cause it's cool and partly cloudy. When the sun disappears behind the clouds their metabolism tanks.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (under 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. Shutter and ISO set to expose the sky in the background.
Hier konnte ich gerstern eine kleine Bläulings Dame ablichten, die sich in der Abendsonne entspannte. 💕
One bug on top of another - both nymph stages - on a datura (Jimson weed) fruit. And if you look closely, you can just make out a third, smaller bug of the same species climbing down from the large bug. A bit of it is visible between the abdomen and hind leg of the large bug. I have other photos where the very little bug is on the head of the large one.
I was trying to photograph this female Sweat Bee while she was foraging for pollen in a Sourgrass flower but there was not enough wind and she felt me grab onto the flower's stem. I managed to get three frames before she took off.
Tech Specs: Canon 90D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -2/3 FEC. This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order.