Nice substitution.
No reason to feel discouraged. This is a very nicely done fly shot--in my opinion, one of the best bug shots you have posted. Good detail, pretty good exposure, good composition, nice background. You should be pleased. The one thing I would do is lighten it up a little bit. A simple levels adjustment would do it (I tried one.)
I opened this thread to say it could possible be the best thread title ever, anywhere. But it's a very good picture as well - the detail on that fly is very impressive, the iridescence of its wings.
Very nice fly shot!
Plenty of good detail and a nice angle, Brian.
You have captured the distinctive wing veins with their sharply angled ends and there is a spiky rear end which tends to suggest one of the Tachinidae family.
Over here we have Exorista species which are similar but this is another of those difficult groups.
You have a great sense of humor The detail of your fly pic is good too!