Ichneumon Wasp on Queen Anne's Lace - using Nikon D40x with 55-200mm lens
Blue-billed duck shot in Balboa State Park, California. Same camera and lens.
Sunset in Central Vermont, shot with a Panasonic DMZ-LC20 point-and-shoot.
Cuckoo Wasp on Queen Anne's lace, Central Vermont, shot with Nikon D40X using 55-200mm lens.
Bee on sunflower at dusk, shot with Nikon D40X using 55-200mm lens
Monarch Butterfly in Central Vermont, shot with Nikon D40X using 55mm lens.
For Susan, who sought a respite from the "news" - it is always a good idea to stop and see the beauty around you.
Thanks for the "order", Deven. :-D
All photos here copyright 2008 by Bill Schwartz - all rights reserved.
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Comments
Cherie, that insect is actually a wasp - it's called a cuckoo wasp (not sure why). The coloring is what attracted me - I thought I was shooting a fly.
Rich, that is one of my favorites. It is an Ichneumon wasp, and believe it or not that scary thing on the back end is called an ovipositor, used for depositing eggs.
I'll go put a little blurb under each (like I should have). :-D
Well, with the exception of the sunset, that is. :-D
Have you ever seen the golden dragon flies? I am no photographer but have seen these and they look metallic gold like some Ming dynasy brooch. You do incredible closeup work!
Life is beautiful.
I thank Susan for expressing a need for beauty. Just perfect.
So I love your wasps and bee and butterfly. I would have thought that blue guy was some kind of fly, too. I love the way the butterfly seems to be cradling the flower in his "arms." One of the best parts of that first shot is how the Queen Anne's Lace is transformed at the scale. It looks like something otherworldly.
I also haven't ever seen that brand of duck ;) He's (She's?) a beauty. Plump and fluffy, too. I don't think I have to tell you how gorgeous that sunset is. There's something about colors like that in the sky that will take you outside of yourself.
Thank you so much Bill for showing us the beauty around you. It was well worth stopping for ;)
Bad, but, beautiful bugs..
Okay, they're all beautiful. I'm not worthy. I use the auto-focus unless I'm trying to get real closes up. Damn, I feel so worthless.
Steph, I haven't seen a golden dragonfly yet - but I did get a shot of one being born (coming out of its nymph exoskeleton). I'll post it another time. :-D
And thanks for the info on cuckoo wasps - I merely tried to find out what I had, and didn't bother to check out the characteristics of the critter. Always good to know.
Susan, I'm glad you like them. I was actually going to post a shot I have of a miniature wasp in flight instead of the duck, but I thought that might be too many bug shots ( I should have listened to my instincts, which told me you'd love it).
Roger, thanks very much. I have to tell you that I take a lot of shots, many of which wind up in the discard pile. But there is usually a few that come out just as I hoped they would. These would be some examples.
Lauren, what do you mean you're not worthy? Of COURSE you are! Truth be told I tend to use auto focus a lot as well. The camera is usually smarter than my eye. Sometimes, though, I just have to go manual because the shot is too tight for the camera to nail it (or maybe it's too tight for the lens? I'm still figuring it out). I happen to really like the sixth one in your set - I'm not sure what that plant is, but you got an awesome shot there. There is wonderful detail in the shoots (or are those leaves or petals? I know absolutely nothing about plants).
You have a great eye. And you realize that some of the most amazing things are all around us, and we can't see them. Or don't. Or don't know how. Thanks for the edification.
Scruffus - Thank you! You would be amazed if I told you how many shots I typically take in a weeks' time, and how many ever see the light of day on my photo sharing page.
Merwoman - That's exactly how I felt when I saw it on the computer the first time. I never get tired of looking at that amazing little critter.
Connie Mack - Thank you very much! I have been shooting now for a little over two and a half years, and I'm hoping to get good enough to make a little extra money from it some day. Photography really sharpened my eyes and my observations of the world around me - I don't just look left and right anymore, now it's also up and down. I must look pretty foolish when I'm out walking, but I don't care. :-D