A few insects... just started going out this season

[James G]

I finally got round to going out a couple of days back to hunt for a few insects..

#1



#2



#3



#4



#5



#6



#7



#8

[RandyRFJP]

All great images James. I tried to get a decent photo of a bee fly (Image #6) this last weekend, but failed. They don't stand still for long, and actually hover in mid-air like a hummingbird.

[skitterbug]

+1 to Randy's comments. I tried catching honey bees in action and mine aren't near as sharp and clear as all of your critters! Well done!

[Shadowman]

Nice start and captures.

[Geoff F]

All great images James. I tried to get a decent photo of a bee fly (Image #6) this last weekend, but failed. They don't stand still for long, and actually hover in mid-air like a hummingbird.

Yes, you have to catch them when they are having a rest, but even then they don't stay still for long.

Those Nomada bees (#3) are another group which keep flitting around although the males are usually a little easier. The females tend to spend much of their time in an endless search for fresh Andrena bee nest burrows where they lay eggs which become parasites of the Andrena bee larvae.

Nice image showing the midge antennae (#7). Only the males have these stunning antennae.

So far this year I have had plenty of Orange Tips flying around me but none have posed for a photo.

[James G]

I was out again today.. Conditions challenging, very sunny, but cold and during the afternood intermittent hailstorms.
I think though it worked a little in my favour 'slowing down' the few insects that were out during the sunny spells.

At this time of year the Orange Tips um up Spring for me and I always try to get a few shots of them. I thought I had done pretty well yesterday, but I struck lucky today with a few captures that I will find it hard to better for the rest of the season.......

#1 Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines male


#2


#3


#4 and to round off the day.... Great Pied Hoverfly, Volucella pellucens male

[JBW]

I like the butterfly with two flying whatevers

[IzzieK]

Yeyyyy!!! buggies! I am still trying to achieve #8 on the first batch. Envious.

[lesno1]

These are wonderful James how on earth do you get such clear images

[bje07]

Nice sharp and well exposed pictures.
Do you use extension tubes on some of them or are they cropped (just for my information)?

[James G]

Hi Les, I've been keeping a look out for you... these were all taken at Barston Lakes.

how on earth do you get such clear images

Arguably a lot of luck you are not seeing all the duds! But, being a bit more serious about the question, my 'rig' is a Canon EOS 5Ds R and either a Canon EF 100mm F2.8L macro lens (IS version), or the Canon EF 180mm F3.5 Macro lens. The 100mm lens is quite fast and bright and my lens of choice, but if I'm after more skittish subjects the 180 mm enables me to back of a bit.
I try to shoot without additional light, but for the really close 0r very small subjects I have a Canon macro Twin Lite MT24-EX Speedlight.
I invariably use a monopod, partly because I'm not quite as young as I used to be, but also because I tend to use it as a stabiliser when I'm holding the camera at arms length, or when I'm on my knees or at an awkward angle.
One thing though, I have never got into using live view,being much more comfortable with the viewfinder. I find though that if I draw back from the view finder while focusing and just use the centre area, I can judge the sharpness of the subject more easily.
I've also learnt that I get better results if a) I don't hesitate deciding and 'micro adjusting' focus/sharpness, and b) do not hold my breath when pressing the shutter, and just let my breathing 'relax'.
For most captures I'm comfortable with Aperture Priority, and auto focus, though there are plenty of occasions, I have to focus manually. I tend to do this by setting a general focus distance and then I move the camera on the monopod backwards and forwards to get the optimum focus.

Jean, as regards your question...

Do you use extension tubes on some of them or are they cropped (just for my information)?

I rarely use extension tubes.. I do have a set, but I have never really got used to them. As a result I usually end up cropping.
Last year I was shooting with a Canon 7Dmk2 which is a 22mp 1.6 crop factor camera. I took a decision late last season to invest in the 5DsR which is a full frame 50mp camera without a low pass filter.
It was expensive! but, given I often have to crop an insect image having the 'extra' megapixels is invaluable and the sharpness of the raw captures is exceptional.

I process the raw captures using Photoshop CC with most of the adjustments applied in Bridge ACR. Not having to sharpen to compensate for the High Pass Filter has been very noticeable, and I now only tend to sharpen for 'final' presentation.

At the end of the day though.... I still think I get lucky much of the time.....

[lesno1]

Hi James thankyou very much for taking the time to explain all that it is all very useful information , i was round the lake last week i will bump into you one of the days im sure . Luck does play a part but you still need a lot of skill to take the images you put on here thanks again .

[marlunn]

Nice Images James, love this time with the Orange Tips out and about. I would say the last one is a Leucozona lucorum though, the scutella is pale as against the Volucella, that has a black scutellum
As for 'luck' the more you practice and think the 'luckier' you get

[bnnrcn]

The light is better in your second set, very nice images

[James G]

Hi Mark, I certainly pracrice a lot!

I would say the last one is a Leucozona lucorum though, the scutella is pale as against the Volucella, that has a black scutellum

Rechecked my Wild Guide to Hoverflies, and agree with you about Leucozona. My p[ast history is Chemistry and Biochemistry and later IT. The identification and naming of insects bamboozles me greatly.... Trouble is it is much easier photographing them than identifying them!

[marlunn]

Know what you mean, i was aircraft engineer then IT manager - I have a shelf load of 'guides' and plod through them , if you do facebook try looking at UK Hoverflies - great site that has experts that help with IDs and love images with dates and locations to record sightings. The Mr Ball and Mr Morris from the wild guide are there and happy to help with IDs etc.

[Geoff F]

Excellent Orange Tips, Mark. You even have the orange colour showing through from the upperside.

But just one thing to mention. Your Volucella pellucens is actually Leucozona lucorum. The same species as image #8 of the first set.

The scutellum is orange and the outer cross vein isn't quite so 're-entrant' as Volucella.

[marlunn]

Not mine Geoff, these are from James

[Geoff F]

Yes, of course. You posted just ahead of me and I must have seen your name when I was meaning to type James. That is a part of growing older I suspect.