Getting some flower power

[Geoff F]

7D with Sigma 180 macro lens. 1/200 F14 Iso 200 and a little bit of flash. Episyrphus balteatus hoverfly.

Sometimes you really do find yourself in a bed of roses.



1/160 F11 Iso 800. Juvenile Hairy Shieldbug in a rose bloom.

And on the next flower was an adult Hairy Shieldbug



1/80 F11 Iso 400

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[DanK]

Nice. First one in particular


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[FootLoose]

I know you can only shoot them where you find them, but I find bug photos much interesting when they are in / on flowers. Probably because the flower offers a cleaner background. Nice set, Geoff.

[John 2]

Nice series Geoff. It's some time since I have seen a shield bug.

[rpcrowe]

Good captures...

[skitterbug]

Looks like you had an enjoyable day! We have shieldbugs here but I haven't seen any lately. All three photos are excellent but I like the Shieldbug pic best. Lots of complementary colours and Mr. Shieldbug looking right at the camera!

[Rita]

Nice set Geoff.

[JBW]

Looking good

[Bear Dale]

Nice set there.

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments.

The hoverfly is a very common species which I found inside a bindweed flower while I was looking for 'more interesting insects' while on one of my wildlife recording walks. Normally I would simply have noted it and walked past, but there wasn't much else about so I thought 'that scene presents a serious challenge for exposure settings'. So I had a go at it.

The shieldbug was in my garden. That species is fairly common here but they can be tricky to photograph in sunlight due to over exposure hot spots. This was a dull day which can be an advantage but model movement is often a problem where you need a longer exposure or higher Iso; both of which create their own issues.