Never seen one before looks like it needs 8 legs to keep its balance What do locals think of you taking macro. I know these local farmers think I am quite bonkers getting on all fours to observe the smaller creatures we share this planet with. I did a story a while back on one of these strange creatures who thought there was a massive fly in his field he was so scared seeing the bug in macro on the camera screen,
LOL!! Don't worry Tony, everyone thinks the same baout me but I mostly ignore them. :) As a matter for fact, it is nice being thought a bit crazy, it makes people wonder what I am up to. LOL!!
Thanks Andrea. I was so happy to find this and very excited to see the pictures come out so well. They are no easy to get so I was very pleased with myself. :)
Thanks Craver. A very cute little thing and I have been trying for so long to get pics of it. So here is another example why we all need to pat ourselves on the back occasionally. :)
Thanks Gaelyn. This was VERY lucky!! They move so fast from one flower to the next and I usually do not even have time to focus before they have moved on
Yes, my friend, I am counting the days too and you will not believe how I am looking forward to this trip.
If I get to be ninty, me thinks my butt would look like that in the first photo too, LOL! I have those "bee mimics" here too. Your lucky to have gotten such good photos of that one, usually they do not stay still long enough for as good a shots as those you have taken.
LOL!! Your butt could never be so pretty Ken. LOL!! Thanks, I was so excited to get this series as I had ben trying for so long to get shots of one of them. The flower it is on are those small yellow ones you find in grass patches. Okay, you are not in trouble anymore. LOL!!
This is one cute little fly. Oh did I say that? Anyway he really is cute, and what awesome pictures you got. From behind he looks like a spent dandilion. B,
Now that is an interesting little thing and I guess he heard that you are an ambassador for the insect world so he was happy to have his photos taken....Michelle
Hello Mingfei. Wonderful to hear from you again. I hope the sudies are going well.
Thanks, this was a great find and I was so pleased the pictures came out well. If you have any pictures of yours, please post them for me to see but I know they are not easy to get. :)
I have been bitten by the macro bug too. What equipment are you using? I found a furry fly in my garden recently (Port Elizabeth) and managed a macro or two.
I saw the picture of it Zane and it is the same as this one.
Once you get started in this kind of photography, there is no end to it. This is such a fascinating world I am finding myself in!!
Most of these macro shots are taken with a small P&S believe it or not. I did get a Canon 400D and a 100mm macro lens but almost never use it as I do not like the DOF it gives me. The greatest thing to remember with macro is that you have to be 100% steady in focusing else you get a blur which is more noticable than in other kinds of photography.
A lot of people use a tripod to help them but I find it quite useless as insects land in all kinds of odd spots.
Thank you for the reply Joan. I am astounded by the images that you take with a P&S. I use a Raynox DCR 250 macro lens with a Panasonic DMC FZ50 for my macro work. Will try my tiny Olympus FE3010 for macro's as an interesting aside.
PS. Check out the Raynox lens - I acquired mine on WantitAll for R900 or less. It is a very popular lens and has a large user pool on Flickr.
You are welcome Zane. Not all P&S cameras are capable of these kind of shots. When I wanted to buy one, I naturally went for Canon and I have always been a fan of the brand but was extremely disappointed at the results. I took it back to the shop and explained what I was looking for and was shocked when the salesman recommended a Kodak. WHAT!! THAT was the bottom of the range!! Nevertheless, he convinced me to try it for a week and I am SO happy with it and would recommend it to anyone and buy another if something goes wrong with this one. It is small enough for me to take anywhere and I am never without it.
Thanks for the info on the Raynox, I will check it out. Sounds like a good buy.
....but today must be my lucky day as I got this....
...and this..... 
then.......
....and....LOL!!
I have never seen one of these, but it looks like a truly interesting fly to find and photograph. You just want to catch him and blow him.
ReplyDeleteJoan: If I ever saw one of these I think I would laugh. What a strange fly.
ReplyDeleteNever seen one before looks like it needs 8 legs to keep its balance What do locals think of you taking macro. I know these local farmers think I am quite bonkers getting on all fours to observe the smaller creatures we share this planet with.
ReplyDeleteI did a story a while back on one of these strange creatures who thought there was a massive fly in his field he was so scared seeing the bug in macro on the camera screen,
Wow!
ReplyDeleteJoan!
Such a great serie!
Wonderful shots.
(and the insect is really funny...)
You probably have them in your garden Jonker but they are so small you have just not noticed them ... in anycase, who looks at flies anyway!! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteLOL!! It is a strange one Tom.
ReplyDeleteLOL!! Don't worry Tony, everyone thinks the same baout me but I mostly ignore them. :) As a matter for fact, it is nice being thought a bit crazy, it makes people wonder what I am up to. LOL!!
ReplyDeleteThats a great story too!! :)
Thanks Andrea. I was so happy to find this and very excited to see the pictures come out so well. They are no easy to get so I was very pleased with myself. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a remarkable little thing! Outstanding macros, Joan... these pics are so detailed, I would have thought the bee fly to be much bigger.
ReplyDeleteWow Joan, you got very lucky, or is it that bug-eye you have. Such a tiny and amazing fly. Your macros show amazing detail.
ReplyDelete14 days left.
Thanks Craver. A very cute little thing and I have been trying for so long to get pics of it. So here is another example why we all need to pat ourselves on the back occasionally. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Gaelyn. This was VERY lucky!! They move so fast from one flower to the next and I usually do not even have time to focus before they have moved on
ReplyDeleteYes, my friend, I am counting the days too and you will not believe how I am looking forward to this trip.
I'm thinking you had a very lucky day w/ these shots! WoW! They're incredible & I love the fuzz on him - He's so cuuute!
ReplyDeleteThis is a darling little fellow! I've never heard of them either, just an African insect maybe?
ReplyDeleteIf I get to be ninty, me thinks my butt would look like that in the first photo too, LOL! I have those "bee mimics" here too. Your lucky to have gotten such good photos of that one, usually they do not stay still long enough for as good a shots as those you have taken.
ReplyDeleteHello Tricia. I was indeed lucky with these.:)
ReplyDeleteHello Becky. No, you have them there too but as with most insects, most people do not notice them. They are tiny too so go unnoticted very easily. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL!! Your butt could never be so pretty Ken. LOL!! Thanks, I was so excited to get this series as I had ben trying for so long to get shots of one of them. The flower it is on are those small yellow ones you find in grass patches. Okay, you are not in trouble anymore. LOL!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting creature! I'm gonna go read about them right now, lol.
ReplyDeleteLOL!! A pretty cute little thing don't you think? It migh make a good model for a cuddly toy too. :)
ReplyDeleteJoan, you seriously ROCK! These photos are nothing short of spectacular!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute little guy!
This is just so cool! A big fuzz ball with wings! What a neat critter this is!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words Krista!! That is very generous of you!!
ReplyDeleteOr should I still call you Penny? :)
LOL!! LOVE your description Mary!! :)
ReplyDeleteAnything but late for dinner, Joan! haha!
ReplyDeleteLOL!! NEVER!! Well maybe, I am a bad cook !! LOL!! I always say I answer to anything including 'hey you'. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is one cute little fly. Oh did I say that? Anyway he really is cute, and what awesome pictures you got. From behind he looks like a spent dandilion.
ReplyDeleteB,
Thanks Becky. At least we have to admit that SOME flies are cute. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL!! He does look like a dandilion!! I never thought of that one. :)
Now that is an interesting little thing and I guess he heard that you are an ambassador for the insect world so he was happy to have his photos taken....Michelle
ReplyDeleteI guess you are right Michelle. They dont normally stay around that log so this one must have had a reason. :)
ReplyDeletehaha... I'd even answer to "hey you"... for a *good* cook. :oP
ReplyDeleteLOL!! Well my family survived on it although I am not sure how. LOL!!
ReplyDeleteThis guy looks so cool! And my favourite shot is the one you allways get... Really cute seen from behind! :-)))
ReplyDeleteLOL!! I have to admit it is a cute butt!! :) Thanks Jose.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely insect! Great shots! The species in Beijing have longer mouth. They can be found in Botanical Garden.
ReplyDeleteHello Mingfei. Wonderful to hear from you again. I hope the sudies are going well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, this was a great find and I was so pleased the pictures came out well. If you have any pictures of yours, please post them for me to see but I know they are not easy to get. :)
I have pics but they were created by cellphone because my camera was out of power at that time. So the quality of the pictures is poor...
ReplyDeleteNo problem Mingfei. Maybe sometime you will get some better ones and then post then so that I can see them.
ReplyDeleteWooly Bee Fly! LOL Really?
ReplyDeleteYea ok!
What are you selling now J?
Just kidding, what a great capture Joan. The bug lady at her best!
Craig
LOL!! See how good I have got at claymations? :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Craig. This is just the cutest little critter!! Looks like one I would like to hug but it is so tiny I would end up squashing it. LOL!!
I have been bitten by the macro bug too. What equipment are you using? I found a furry fly in my garden recently (Port Elizabeth) and managed a macro or two.
ReplyDeleteSee http://zanephotoblog.blogspot.com/
I saw the picture of it Zane and it is the same as this one.
ReplyDeleteOnce you get started in this kind of photography, there is no end to it. This is such a fascinating world I am finding myself in!!
Most of these macro shots are taken with a small P&S believe it or not. I did get a Canon 400D and a 100mm macro lens but almost never use it as I do not like the DOF it gives me. The greatest thing to remember with macro is that you have to be 100% steady in focusing else you get a blur which is more noticable than in other kinds of photography.
A lot of people use a tripod to help them but I find it quite useless as insects land in all kinds of odd spots.
Thank you for the reply Joan. I am astounded by the images that you take with a P&S. I use a Raynox DCR 250 macro lens with a Panasonic DMC FZ50 for my macro work. Will try my tiny Olympus FE3010 for macro's as an interesting aside.
ReplyDeletePS. Check out the Raynox lens - I acquired mine on WantitAll for R900 or less. It is a very popular lens and has a large user pool on Flickr.
You are welcome Zane. Not all P&S cameras are capable of these kind of shots. When I wanted to buy one, I naturally went for Canon and I have always been a fan of the brand but was extremely disappointed at the results. I took it back to the shop and explained what I was looking for and was shocked when the salesman recommended a Kodak. WHAT!! THAT was the bottom of the range!! Nevertheless, he convinced me to try it for a week and I am SO happy with it and would recommend it to anyone and buy another if something goes wrong with this one. It is small enough for me to take anywhere and I am never without it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info on the Raynox, I will check it out. Sounds like a good buy.