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Everything is Permuted

Tales of an urban fox... and other ramblings

Insects and Bugs

Sunday, 4. May 2008, 23:18:38

,

Well you can tell when summer is around the corner: the insects and bugs start to appear in force, and I spend much of my time crawling around on the ground with a macro lens. I've started an album over on my main web site, creatively entitled Insects and Bugs. Here's a small sample:

Harlequin Ladybird
The harlequin is an invader species, larger and more voracious than our native ladybirds.

Large Red Damselfly

Nursery web spider

Speckled Wood butterfly

Azure damselfly

Camera note: all shots (except the butterfly) taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro + Kenko Teleplus 1.4x Pro 300 DG teleconverter. The speckled wood butterfly was taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS + an extension tube.

Fox Freeze!Flora

Comments

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Stunning shots - love the Ladybird!

By Vulpes vulpes, # 4. May 2008, 23:56:00

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Very nice work- I'm a little envious you've got better chances of macro shots as my opportunities are diminishing.

How does the tele-converter work out in terms of IQ?

By chthoniid, # 5. May 2008, 00:31:06

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Vulpes, thanks!

By Words, # 5. May 2008, 07:10:02

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Brendan, the tele-converter seems to work really well with the macro lens. I've been dubious about it with my 100-400. It can really help and I've got some good shots that way (like this pheasant), but the hit rate has been too low for comfort so unless it's a very bright I don't even try. WIth the macro lens I usually add flash anyway so there's no problem getting sufficient light on the subject. This toad was taken with macro+TC combination and is as good as anything I've taken.

By Words, # 5. May 2008, 07:16:35

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The spider is my favourite. Great job all round! :smile:

By SittingFox, # 5. May 2008, 10:37:23

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So nice! :love: :up:
I love the photo of ladybug: contrast color of flowers-background (yellow) sets off the ladybug (red-black).

By quaconyenyen, # 5. May 2008, 19:16:58

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The Harlequin Ladybird is a very nice shot- how good of it to pose for you. It's a shame to learn that it is an invasive.

We have a native ladybug(bird) that is actually black with orange spots- alas I didn't have the macro lens when I spotted it.

I'm looking forward to seeing what else Spring/Summer brings out in your albums.

By chthoniid, # 7. May 2008, 00:50:28

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Thanks Adele. I liked the way the spider is resting with one leg is hooked over the leaf for balance.

By Words, # 7. May 2008, 06:25:43

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Thanks Quaconyenyen!

By Words, # 7. May 2008, 06:27:02

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Brendan, we have quite a wide variety of natives. The harlequins are much larger and current status is one of monitoring their extent. I tend to see a small number in the garden, but they are still much less common where I am than our traditional ladybirds.

By Words, # 7. May 2008, 06:28:50

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Fantastic photos! :up:

By zetorres, # 7. May 2008, 21:52:19

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Thanks ZT!

By Words, # 7. May 2008, 22:39:17

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Very nice shots there D

By Flying Red Fox Blog, # 13. May 2008, 06:12:40

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Thanks Mark!

By Words, # 13. May 2008, 06:27:32

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