Post your insects

[Letrow]

This one was resting I guess in between flower visits.
Syrphidae

[Geoff F]

Very interesting, Peter.

The deep loop in the wing vein clearly leads us to Eristalis but note the lack of a dark face stripe. The black area on abdomen tergite 2 is rather narrow and well clear of the abdomen sides. This is another useful pointer, although not totally reliable.

The wing stigma (black spot) is quite large and a bit 'fuzzy' which rules out Eristalis interruptus. So that leaves us with Eristalis arbustorum (male) - probably.

[Geoff F]

It has been too wet and windy here for any insect work recently.

However, I have created a 'computer room' from an unused room and I'm working on having a very small area for a 'bug studio'. Possibly collecting and bringing home live insects, which spend a short calming period in the refrigerator before getting the star role in a photo shoot, may be an interesting experience.

And afterwards, they can retire to an easy life in my garden!

This odd looking fly was sheltering on the wall of my house so I 'persuaded' him to come inside (with a small collecting net) and calmed him down in the refrigerator. Then, after setting up a suitable scene, and roughly working out my camera settings, I placed him onto a potted plant leaf.



Placed beside a window, and I used a little bit of flash to give me sufficient depth (F14).

But since then, I have purchased a fairly basic studio lamp which works without creating any noticeable heat. But I'm still playing around with the set up.



Not quite perfect yet but used with just a tiny bit of fill flash it is looking hopeful. Probably another lamp or reflector etc on the other side may help; although the first trial seemed fairly OK.

ps. Mr. Fly is also known as Sicus ferrugineus.

[Letrow]

Ooh, I love this setup. I did notice that he has got goosebumps all over him.
But really, nice setup, especially with that background. Makes it natural. I have a small white studio as well for macro shots and good flash (on and off camera), so I should try this as well.

I have said it before though and I'll say it again (slightly ashamed): I am a lazy shooter. I love sunshine as my light source and I also love walking around with that 105mm VR. More and more insects are appearing and I have to say that macro photos (both flowers and insects) have really 'captured' me.
In Project 52 I try to keep away from this, but it is hard. I mean the results in macro can be really satisfying.

And I appreciate your input on the insects very much Geoff. I do try to get the names in there, but it is hard sometimes. I did find some good sites though for bumblebees and the hoverfly family, so I am trying.

Syrphidae or hoverfly 1

Syrphidae or hoverfly 2

Bees

Bumblebee

syrphidae or hoverfly 3

Bumblebee 2

[johnbharle]

Well, it IS a spider, but she's quite cute...



Now this guy's something else. Don't know what he is, but he's supposed to be bad news for pine trees...

[Geoff F]

You have several sites there, Peter, which I have used previously.

The ultimate for hoverflies is British Hoverflies by Stubbs & Falk but it comes in book form around £40 so you need to be keen on the subject. The Dutch equivalent is written by M. Van Veen.

Here are a couple of other sites which I find useful.

http://www.eakringbirds.com/photogalleryindex.htm

And this Belgian site (in English)

http://www.commanster.eu/commanster.html

And something else which I tried successfully today is covering a small shallow container (I used a coffee jar lid) with a leaf, or a mixture of greenery, but leaving a distinct central dip and rim.

I found this contained insects for sufficient time to take a few decent shots and with a natural looking background.

Shooting macro 'in the wild' is certainly one of those 'extreme sports' which proves exhilarating; but I'm finding that with some species I'm failing with the identification because I just can't get the critical angles. Which is why I'm considering alternative methods for those cases.

I'm not familiar with John's Texas insects. The Wild About The World site may well have experts on these species.

[Letrow]

Now this guy's something else. Don't know what he is, but he's supposed to be bad news for pine trees...

Nice detail on that shield John. How big was this guy? Your DOF is quite limited, so probably not very big.

[Letrow]

You'd never think they are predators when you see their nice colours...



but they are.

They do love their fun and playtime though, just like everybody else





Ladybirds, I really like them.

[Letrow]

Sunbathing





Fly

[lamagra]

[Letrow]

Aghiel, I see you found your way here. As I said before, very nice photo. Love the colours.

[johnbharle]

Peter, the ladybirds are fantastic. I can never get them to look good. You've done marvelously.

[johnbharle]

Nice detail on that shield John. How big was this guy? Your DOF is quite limited, so probably not very big.

Thanks, Peter. He was maybe 1/2 inch (1.25 cm). My partner's niece studies bugs. She told me it was an ironclad beetle and it lives on fungus.

[johnbharle]

This is a good composition with beautiful color. Welcome to the forum.

[johnbharle]

Sunbathing





Fly

I don't know how you get them to sit still for long enough to photograph. Good captures!

[Letrow]

I don't know how you get them to sit still for long enough to photograph. Good captures!

Pff...I step into a wild flower area, try not to block the sun, look around till I see a nice insect and then I usually hurt my knees and back by standing in a cramped position while getting close to the insect without frightening him/her away.
And sunshine is my favourite light for macro, seems to relax them and makes for nice bright colours.

[Geoff F]

Hawthorn Shieldbug



And the overall side view.



More experiments from my 'insect studio'. Both are a merge from 3 shots using chilled subjects.

[Letrow]

I like the front view in particular Geoff, nice detail. In the second photo great detail as well. The leave shows some reflection of the flash I guess, but I don't really see it on the bug itself.
How do you position the flash? Is it close to the subject or further away?

[Geoff F]

Just a basic Speedlite directly mounted to the camera.

I'm finding that those low temperature bulbs on their own just aren't sufficient to shoot at F14 and have a little bit of shutter speed leeway for bug movement. I seem to find that 1/125 or faster is really necessary.

Although flowers work without flash and lower shutter speeds.

I have just added a single 100 watt equivalent daylight quality bulb on the other side but still need a bit of flash, although with -2 compensation.

Another triple bulb lamp on the other side instead of the single may help but space is limited, and I get worried about tripod leg entanglement resulting in the whole set up crashing to the floor.

Maybe a length of wood batten set in concrete might make an alternative light stand. I have seen that done.

Tried shooting a tiny 14 spot ladybird with this rig today. But it just wouldn't sit still and after a couple of quick shots if flew straight out of the window!

Maybe some experiments with diffusers might be worthwhile, but in the past I have found that with variable output flashes they tend to increase the flash output anyway, so I haven't found much improvement.

Possibly ceiling bouncing the flash may also be worth a try. It's early days yet.

[Vrgl]

Here's my shot taken using extension tubes

DSC_0222 by kutsies pics, on Flickr