View allAll Photos Tagged InsectPhotography
Got lucky and found a female Spotted Eye Drone fly early in the day, and she was lethargic enough to let me get a few frames. I know she's a she cause there is a gap between her eyes -males have eyes that touch each other at the top of their head.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 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 stem close to a wall to keep the background from being black.
Technique: I found this European Wool carder bee snoozing on a Lavender stalk before sunset and woke up early the next morning to photograph it before it warmed up and got active. I placed an artificial flower in the background to keep the background from being black.
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.
I noticed this Mining Bee cleaning out debris from her nest and camped at the entrance to see if I could get a few photos. Once she decided to come out we played "BeeKaBoo" cause I accidentally scared her back down into the tunnel a few times.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + 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 Sharpen AI, Denoise AI, and Clarity in that order.
I was really surprised to find this tiny solitary bee in a Dandelion this time of year. The weather had also been terrible for a few days, but the sun came out so I went looking for something to point the camera at.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F13, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 3x) + 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. Shutter and ISO set to expose for the blue sky behind the Dandelion.
This caterpillar paused just long enough for me to take a shot at four times life size.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 3x) + 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. I'm holding on to the stem of the plant with my left hand, and resting the lens on that same hand to keep the scene steady.
I've been planting my yard to attract more critters and this Hairy Footed Bee is a new visitor.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (3x) + 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 spotted this European Wool Carder Bees (Anthidium florentinum) snoozing in my Lavender in the evening but waited until early the next morning to photograph it hoping the cooler temperature would give me more time to shoot it. This time I managed to photograph the critter for over half an hour.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 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. I used an artificial flower to keep the background from being black.
I found a semi-cooperative Chafer Beetle feeding on a Dandelion. As the critter moved around the flower I'd look for a shot when it would briefly paused.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 3x) + 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.
A praying mantis sits on an outdoor night light fixture waiting for moths to fly toward the illumination so it can have an easy meal.
Free to download. Some rights reserved.
While harvesting cocoons this male Blue Mason Bee emerged. It's way too warm here in Naples, Italy (around 17C).
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (about 3.5x) + 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.
A long-legged Green Fly rests atop a magenta impatient flower's leaf. The complimentary colors caught my eye as did the metallic sheen of this beautiful insect.
It's funny that we consider spiders a big part of Halloween when they're all dead, dried up and gone by late October in most places where the leaves turn colors. I captured this little guy this summer on a web he had spun by the Des Plaines river.
Gear:
Bausch and Lomb 26mm f/1.9 C-mount lens
Fotodiox C-mount to E-mount adapter
Fotodiox E-mount Macro Extension Tube
Sony A7R II
I found this Honeybee in an orange tree cleaning her proboscis. Really tricky shooting a moving subject at about 2.5x and getting the plane of focus where it needs to be. Lots of deleted frames. This is the only shot I could get of her wiping off her proboscis. It's difficult to time it due to the lag in pressing the shutter release all the way. I had to wait until her leg was at the end of her proboscis and then take the shot.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (about 2.5x) + 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 Denoise AI, Sharpen AI, and Clarity in that order.
Und hier auch nochmal diese schöne Libelle in Ihrer vollen Pracht :) Was für tolle Geschöpfe, es fasziniert mich immer wieder aufs neue wenn ich Sie erblicke .
After about a dozen of my Red Mason Bees hatched I carried them to some flowers so they could eat. Due to the cool (14C) partly cloudy weather they had a hard time getting their metabolism going. This little guy would forage for a while then turn around to look outside the flower. His metabolism would tank and every time he stopped moving I'd look for a photo.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200 due to Highlight Tone Priority) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (about 2.5x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT (both flash heads on the Canon flash mount), E-TTL metering, (+1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held.
Photographing this mating pair of Sweat Bees was tricky cause they weren't sitting still.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (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, second curtain sync). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In 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. She would occasionally "wake up" and move around the flower and when she paused I'd take a portrait.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (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 Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. Shutter and ISO set to expose the sky in the background.
A beekeeper was kind enough to crack open a few hives for me, and I managed to photograph a honeybee birthday (Apis mellifera liquistica).
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 1x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT (E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held.
Technique: I injected artificial nectar into a Lavender flower and when the honeybee started feeding on it I grabbed onto the stem of the lavender flower with my left hand, and then rested the lens on that same hand to help keep the scene steady. Then we played a game where I'd frame and compose the scene only for her to move at the last second ;)
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200 with highlight tone priority) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 2x) + a diffused MT-24EX (both flash heads on the Canon flash mount, E-TTL metering with -1 1/3 FEC, second curtain sync). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. Image taken in 2016 but I'm just now getting around to processing it.
I went out early and found this rather alien looking metallic beetle hanging out on a Dandelion. Tentatively identified as Buprestidae, likely in the genus Acmaeodera. Common name: Jewel Beetle.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (almost 3x) + 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 flower close to a wall to keep the background from being black.
This female Sweat Bee is using her mandibles to strip pollen out of a Sourgrass anther. I shot a video on how I take these photos youtu.be/iQtUIiNCSzs
Sweat Bees in Sourgrass Deconstruction
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (around 2.5x) + 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 Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. I was holding on to the flower's stem with my left hand, and then resting the lens on that same hand to help keep the scene steady. Easier to do on days when it's windy since the vibrations that I create when I grab onto the flower are masked by the breeze.
While walking through my yard looking for something to shoot this Honeybee landed on my shoulder. Not sure why its metabolism tanked, but it was enough for me to coax it onto a finger and photograph it feeding on some sugar syrup.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (almost 3x) + 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.
This butterfly was flying from one plant to another, this image captures the moment that it starts to land on the plant, with wings slowing it down.
Not sure exactly what this red Beetle is, but I found a mating pair of them on my mother in laws farm -in December! It was 18C (that is almost 65F for the metric impaired ;) ). Way too warm for this time of year.
Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetle).
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F13, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to about 1.5x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -2/3 FEC. This is a single, cropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.