View allAll Photos Tagged InsectPhotography
This is the same Bumblebee that my son Eddy found. It hung out on my patio overnight and I fed and photographed it the next day. Later on in the afternoon it finally got warm enough for the critter to fly off.
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, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order. I injected Agave nectar into the Daisy the Bumblebee is feeding on.
Curl Grubs are the larval stage of Black Beetle which chew at the roots of plants and lawns. Curl Grub Larvae have a cream body with a light brown head and they vary in size from 4mm to 40 mm when fully grown. The tail end of the grub may look darker brown which is due to the soil the grub has ingested during feeding. They are often incorrectly referred to as ‘witchetty grubs’. The grubs feed on plant roots in large numbers and curl up when disturbed. Larvae are most active during mid spring to mid-summer, and can cause severe damage to lawns, gardens and potted plants...
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This Sweat Bee was foraging for nectar in a Sunflower and while I was tracking it with the camera it "paused" for a brief second to do some antenna maintenance.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI, Sharpen AI, and Clarity in that order.
An image from my recent YouTube video on photographing insects. It's not often you find an insect in the perfect location. This on landed in such a spot that I could get a clear background, and even get the tripod in!
As this Sweat Bee was waking up it would walk around a Geranium Petal, and when it paused I looked for a composition. They are called Sweat Bees because some of them are attracted to the minerals in your sweat. Image taken in Lago Patria, Italy in August of 2021.
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 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.
This would be in the family Membracidae and likely subfamily Telamona.
Magnification just over 2x lifesized, 67 stacked images
Pentax K-01, DFA 50mm reverse mounted on extension.
IGP0881-0941 ZS DMap_tu3_tm1
Found and photographed in my garden, this grasshopper lacks the bright and vivid colours that may indicate that it is either distasteful or poisonous to eat, and would probably make an easy meal for any would-be predator. So it uses its green body to expertly match the surrounding vegetation as it shelters within the safety of a leaf stem, helping it to avoid detection from watchful eyes. Once the coast is clear, it will leave to continue foraging on the plants in my garden or whatever else it is that grasshoppers do. Trinidad & Tobago.
Last year I found this European Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium florentinum) snoozing in one of my Sunflowers. That Sunflower acted as a dark yellow reflector for the flash and made the image really warm. I've been working on my post processing so I decided to edited this one and see how it would turn out.
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). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.
Sometimes when I'm shooting a lethargic subject it will wake up and start going about it's normal routine. That's what happened while photographing this Saw Fly. The tricky part is tracking a moving subject when the frame at 4x is only 5.7mm wide by 3.7mm high.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (around 4x) + 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.
While hiking around Monte Orlando in Gaeta, Italy I found this Chafer Beetle that was more hungry than afraid. I can't get close to this same species at my mother in law's farm when they are active.
Possible ID: Oxythyrea funesta.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz 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.
Overcast skies and intermittent rain set up the perfect conditions to go looking for a lethargic critter to photograph. I found this semi-active Sweat Bee on a Buttercup flower and when it would stop moving I'd look for a good angle to take a shot.
Shot taken in Bacoli, Italy in May of 2019.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to around 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, 0 FEC. This is a single, cropped, frame taken hand held.
I went out to my sister in law's place in the mountains above Itri, Italy at 5:30AM to photograph the Bumblebees in her Lavender. There were several that were already awake and foraging in the 17C (62F) temperature.
Bombus hortorum
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to over 3x) + a diffused MT26EX-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. I used an artificial flower to keep the background from being black.
Cool, partly cloudy weather makes the perfect conditions to photograph small solitary bees. I found this Mining Bee foraging in a Dandelion. It would occasionally "wake up" and move around the flower and when it paused I'd look for a way to compose it.
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 flower close to a tile wall to keep the background from being black.
I could watch this Sweat Bee foraging for pollen in a Sunflower all day. The hard part was tracking her as she moved with the MP-E 65mm set to 2x. This scene is only eleven millimeters wide. Lots of deleted frames.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI, Sharpen AI, and Clarity in that order.
There wasn't enough wind so this Sweat Bee felt me grab onto the stem of the Sourgrass Flower that it was foraging in and climbed to the top of it to investigate. But when it did it was facing away from me. So I carefully turned the flower so that the critter was facing the camera. Gotta be gentle, cause I didn't want to spook the bee into taking off and I didn't want to damage the flower. I managed to get the shot and leave the Sourgrass unharmed.
Sweat Bees in Sourgrass Deconstruction
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (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. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI, Denoise AI, and Clarity in that order.
Eleven photos taken at one of the places where I volunteer, Ripon City Wetlands-YWT, and I hope you enjoy them! Thanks so much to everyone who comments on and likes my pictures—it’s truly appreciated. I only wish I had the time to thank each of you personally.
I found a cooperative Soldier Beetle that let me take a few frames.
I've seen this critter called a Soldier Beetle, but the correct common name is probably False Blister Beetle. Oedemera sp. (Oedemeridae)
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.
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. This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200 with highlight tone priority) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (around 2x) + a diffused MT-24EX (both flash heads on the Canon flash mount, E-TTL metering with -1 2/3 FEC).
wasn't able to make a positive identification on the skipper but i'm absolutely sure it was a surprise lily
backyard capture in chesterfield
It is pretty common for mildew (a fungus) to grow on Sunflower leaves but when it does nature sends in her cleaning crew, the 22 Spot Ladybug. They have been grazing like cows in my yard for about a week now.
Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to about 2.5x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering with -2/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.
Found a little Scissor Bee (Chelostoma florisomne, male) semi active in a Buttercup flower. At 5x magnification he still doesn't completely fill the frame, and the scene is only 4.5mm wide.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (4x) + 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.
While I was photographing this Ladybug it started cleaning itself, kinda like a cat licking its paws.
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, -1 FEC. This is a single frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz 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.
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.
I was photographing when i saw this hoverfly. It looked just a little different than what i had seen not to long ago at the time. So i wanted to photograph it, took my shot and got this result!
And later when i checked i was right! It was a different species called meliscaeva cinctella (or stomp elfje in my language)!
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Species: ❌no common name❌, stomp elfje 🇳🇱, gulbåndet krattblomsterflue 🇳🇴 (meliscaeva cinctella)