Sunset road and fields

[tbob]

I paid heavily for this image.

It was such nice warm evening (25C and calm) that I went out in a T shirt and shorts. I forgot we had rains over the last two weeks and there had been water puddles in fields that are usually dry. A point on mosquito biology: mosquito eggs can lie dormant for up to ten years awaiting the the return of water. So every shallow spot in the aspen forest and every ditch becomes a mosquito factory. This is then compounded by the shallow warm puddles in the fields which the first mosquitoes to hatch then breed.

As soon as I stepped out to the truck I was surrounded by about 1000 mosquitoes. They must have sounded the dinner bell because by the time I was set up there was dense cloud around me. Things only got worse and by the time I got the shot composed and triggered the shutter my legs and arms were black with mossies.

Getting back into the truck my usual tactic of briefly opening the car to put my stuff away then running about ten metres away, swatting as many mosquitoes off me then sprinting back to the vehicle and jumping in as fast as possible failed miserably. My personal cloud was quite capable of flying as fast as I could run, I suspect I only gathered more in transit. So I ended up in the truck with a thousand mosquitoes. My only course was to roll down the windows fully then drive away using the wind through the windows to blow as many as possible away.

Luckily I am not even slightly allergic to mosquitoes

[Shadowman]

Your post reminds me of a few encounters I had with a couple of swarms this weekend. When I traveled to India last year the big concern was contracting dengue fever, this year its zika. A nurse suggested mosquito repellant for the India trip but I forgot to bring it and couldn't find any when I arrived but made it through the trip without any incidents. Starting to consider buying some but have read that the spray isn't always effective. Nicely captured, hopefully no after effects from your encounter.

[rtbaum]

Not much of a mosquito problem around here...but then again, I make a living off spraying mosquitoes.....my yard gets treated every two weeks

Although, I did find myself wading through 10 acres of poison ivy yesterday!!

[Wavelength]

Very beautiful image.....Are they just grass or some sort of cultivation?

[tbob]

Your post reminds me of a few encounters I had with a couple of swarms this weekend. When I traveled to India last year the big concern was contracting dengue fever, this year its zika. A nurse suggested mosquito repellant for the India trip but I forgot to bring it and couldn't find any when I arrived but made it through the trip without any incidents. Starting to consider buying some but have read that the spray isn't always effective. Nicely captured, hopefully no after effects from your encounter.

I avoid using mosquito repellent, not because of any concern about applying full strength DEET to my body but because it plays hell with many plastics and I would hate to wreck a lens. Usually tough it out, but this was beyond my tolerance levels. If things look too bad (like future trips out there will) I put on long pants and a bug shirt.

[tbob]

Not much of a mosquito problem around here...but then again, I make a living off spraying mosquitoes.....my yard gets treated every two weeks

Although, I did find myself wading through 10 acres of poison ivy yesterday!!

Poison Ivy and I have yet to make acquaintance Not local and I have no interest in seeking any out. Even as a child in Southern Ontario I somehow never managed to find any.

[tbob]

Very beautiful image.....Are they just grass or some sort of cultivation?

The yellow is canola (the seeds are used for oil) and the foreground crop is peas or lentils.

[kdoc856]

Interesting stuff about the maximum dormancy period of mosquito eggs of 10 years- I didn't know that. I am far more experienced ( unhappily so) with poison ivy, and you might be interested to know that a dead poison ivy vine (via its oil within) can retain it's ability to incite severe dermal reactions for up to 7 years!

Also got some experience (also unhappily) recently with the little Scottish pests called midges. Nasty beasts but not so much as to ruin a wonderful trip to that beautiful country.

BTW- lovely image. The country boy in me looks forward to the objects of your sufferings.

[rtbaum]

Every so often I will hear the story of some poor soul burning poison ivy, intentionally or otherwise. Getting it on your arms or legs can be unpleasant, inhaling it is a guaranteed visit to ER

[Dave A]

You sure captures the colors and the golden evening light well. Lots of those buggers here......at hate them

Dave

[terrib]

It's a beautiful photo. I love the layers of color.

[tbob]

You sure captures the colors and the golden evening light well. Lots of those buggers here......at hate them

Dave

A friend lived for about ten years just east of Thunderbay and his job took him into the forest ( swamp with trees?) . It was a tossup who got more blood, the blackflies, mosquitoes or horseflies. He could not comprehend how the Obijway survived for over ten thousand years in that country.

[tbob]

It's a beautiful photo. I love the layers of color.

It was the layered effect that made me endure the discomfort. Not the first time I have sacrificed blood for my art, but not something I intend to replicate without a bug shirt.

[Donald]

It was the layered effect that made me endure the discomfort. Not the first time I have sacrificed blood for my art, but not something I intend to replicate without a bug shirt.

It was all worth it. A beautiful image.

[IzzieK]

A warm thanks to the bugshirt info and also the 10-year dormancy period of mosquitoes. I just googled bug shirt and found something that might suit me when going to Florida or those nasty noseeums Floridians loves very much.

Anyway, to suffer for your art? Not me. Thank God for people like you because if you and others like you do not exists, I wouldn't have the chance to see this beautiful scenery and all your images of old barns.