One big fly.

[DickyOZ]

About 15-20mm long body.
I think it is a Green Snail Parasitic Blowfly - a specie of Bristle fly. There are plenty of snails in the mangroves for it to use as hosts.

[Davejl]

Flies are often rather attractive viewed close up, and this one certainly is. But definitely better in a pic than buzzing round my head

[John 2]

That's a super sharp shot of a quite beautiful creature Richard. Bottom right quadrant is a bit bright perhaps but............... Nice image.

[DickyOZ]

That's a super sharp shot of a quite beautiful creature Richard. Bottom right quadrant is a bit bright perhaps but............... Nice image.

Thanks John, I got another shot from a different angle and better lighting, but didn't think it was quite sharp enough.


Both images were from about two metres away and hand held while trying to swat mozzies.

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[Wavelength]

Well done

[JohnRostron]

The second shot looks pretty sharp to me. Good images. What focal length were you using at two metres?

John

[Geoff F]

Shiny insects are very difficult to photograph; so well done on the exposure.

[bje07]

Shiny insects are very difficult to photograph; so well done on the exposure.

+1, nice shot

[madcrow]

One big, beautiful, colourful fly. The execution of the image is technically brilliant, I cannot fault it and a joy to look at.

[DickyOZ]

The second shot looks pretty sharp to me. Good images. What focal length were you using at two metres?

John

Both were at 420mm. The first was 1/320sec F9 ISO 800 and the second 1/30sec F9 ISO 200. I used the smallest aperture I could to try to get better DOF. If I'd had my tripod with me I would have tried focus stacking with F5.6 - as wide as I can go with that lens.

Dicky.

[bnnrcn]

Nice shots Richard Better light and colors in the second one.