Hoverflies feasting & in flight

[philzucker]

Some pictures done today in my garden - the hoverflies really were busy and were accompanied by only a few bees. I captured the flies both flying and feasting. ;-)

Here we go:

#1 - docking on from below:



#2 - coming in (very heavy crop, but IMO still some nice detail):



#3 - from above:



#4 - navigating the plant labyrinth:



#5 - feasting on the lavender:



#6 - all legs aligned!



#7 - time for a refreshment:



#8 - flying veery pretty:



#9 - environmental flight portrait:



#10 - checking plant landscape from above:



#11 - final landing position:



All taken handheld with an OM-3 and the 60mm Oly macro lens, a very light weight but capable combination. I used electronic shutter for most shots - interesting how I got very clear and distinct wings in in flight in #8 without any distortion, and clearly some very pronounced rolling shutter in #10; since both pictures were taken at 1/1600s a clear sign that perspective really matters.

Everything was cropped to taste, some more heavily, some less, and some of the closer crops were denoised in LR. Apart from that only minor PP.

Phil

--
GMT +1
Gallery: http://photosan.smugmug.com

 

[jim mij]

Very nice

interesting to see 1000th of a second still causes blurry wings

I like the wide crop on pic 8, letterbox style, nice to see the flowers + the fly

 

[macrouser]

It's good to see you posting again.

Hover flies are fun to do and the flowrs help.

We are having some of the coldest winter weather that we have had in many years. It is hard to find insects.

 

[philzucker]

Very nice

Thanks, Jim! Much appreciated.

interesting to see 1000th of a second still causes blurry wings

It sure does, depending on the viewing angle and flight direction.

I like the wide crop on pic 8, letterbox style, nice to see the flowers + the fly

Thanks again! I like that one too, not the least because the hoverfly seems to be frozen in the air with almost no wing blur. In general I tried to mix close ups and environmental shots. I like #10 in spite of the rolling shutter wings - for me the perspective from above somehow look like an aircraft navigating among some towers like in a computer game.

Phil

 

[philzucker]

It's good to see you posting again.

Thanks! Yes, lots of work to do, definitely not enough time for photography ... :-(

Hover flies are fun to do and the flowrs help.

They sure are easier to catch than other flying insects!

We are having some of the coldest winter weather that we have had in many years. It is hard to find insects.

That's not nice. I hope you will get an early spring at least.

Thanks for looking and for your comment!

Phil

 

[jim mij]

Very nice

Thanks, Jim! Much appreciated.

interesting to see 1000th of a second still causes blurry wings

It sure does, depending on the viewing angle and flight direction.

I like the wide crop on pic 8, letterbox style, nice to see the flowers + the fly

Thanks again! I like that one too, not the least because the hoverfly seems to be frozen in the air with almost no wing blur. In general I tried to mix close ups and environmental shots. I like #10 in spite of the rolling shutter wings - for me the perspective from above somehow look like an aircraft navigating among some towers like in a computer game.

Perhaps a ww2 bomber after its purple bombs have exploded ?

Phil

 

[grsnovi]

[No message]

 

[Newbie Phewbie]

Lovely images! I love the first one.

 

[philzucker]

Thanks, Gary! I think the combination of a soft colorful background and the fly and flower that kind of emerge from it does the trick here.

Phil

 

[philzucker]

Lovely images! I love the first one.

Thank you! Much appreciated. The 60/2.8 truly is able to render some nice soft backgrounds on occasion.

Phil

 

[philzucker]

I like #10 in spite of the rolling shutter wings - for me the perspective from above somehow look like an aircraft navigating among some towers like in a computer game.

Perhaps a ww2 bomber after its purple bombs have exploded ?

LOL! Now that you say it - could indeed be!

Phil

 

[ASR45]

Excellent work.

 

[Paul5566]

Good shots. The Hovers do as much work as the bees I reckon.

 

[philzucker]

Excellent work.

Thanks for the kind comment, Alan. Much appreciated!

Phil


--
GMT +1
Gallery: http://photosan.smugmug.com

 

[philzucker]

Good shots.

Thanks!

The Hovers do as much work as the bees I reckon.

They really do, they are excellent pollinators.

Phil