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2013-05-20 13:32:06 (30 comments, 4 reshares, 59 +1s)

Mayfly

First time I've ever seen one of these in person. Mother nature was not co-operating with me this day as it was windy this particular morning. I did manage to get this shot, but I so wanted to try some 3x on those eyes.

The face looks like some skeleton with a helmet at this angle lol.

Veteran's Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

#MacroMonday  for +Kerry Murphy, +Kelli Seeger Kim, +Jennifer Eden, +Jake Easley
#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers

2013-05-17 13:53:07 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

It's About Thyme Chicken

Balsamic-thyme marinated chicken breast with sautéed mushrooms, melted provolone, lettuce, tomato & basil mayo

Flancer's
Mesa, AZ

#FoodFriday  for +Natty Netsuwan, +D. DeMonteverde, +Jenn Oliver, +Moon Lee

2013-05-17 13:46:55 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Carefree Innocence

I was sitting on the floor and her twin sister and their cousins decided to chase each other while running around me in circles.

#WeAreParents  curated by +Juan Gonzalez

2013-05-17 14:07:11 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

Damselfly

Lot's of damsels lately for me. I could almost start an ode a day project lol.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ

#BuggyFriday  for +Ray Bilcliff, +Dorothy Pugh, +Victoria Etna

2013-05-16 16:28:34 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

Wasp

While I was waiting for the ant in my previous post to not be so active while under a container, I noticed this wasp. I observed it for a while and found that it was digging holes near the base of a nearby bush. I watched it for at least 10+ mins as it dug out dirt. I couldn't get any sharp photos of it in the entire frame, but I did get plenty of action shots like this one flicking dirt as it makes a hole. It would also pick up bigger pieces and carry it out.

#BugsEveryday  for +Chris Mallory

2013-05-16 16:16:45 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

Ant

Stopping long enough to say hello.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Chris Levers, +Bill Urwin

2013-05-15 21:41:02 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Got the new UI. So far I'm liking what I'm seeing.

2013-05-15 13:32:52 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 26 +1s)

Damselfly

A Nutella-ish colored damsel for +Alan Shapiro on his birthday.

#AlanShapiroBirthdayStyle

2013-05-14 14:29:48 (16 comments, 2 reshares, 27 +1s)

Rambur's Forktail

It was resting on a tree so I tried to get underneath it some to try and get the mouth parts.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers
#odonatapoker  for +viviane godenne

2013-05-14 00:11:04 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Since the "freeze motion" album has been revealed for +Chrysta Rae's Photography Scavenger Hunt I thought I'd share my shot and some BTS stuff.

It's a composite of two photos. The base image is the cereal bowl and the spoon. The other is the strawberry and splash. The last photo is a pullback shot of the setup.

The room was dark for the photos so that the flash was the only thing that would freeze the motion. Exposure time on the camera was 3 sec (enough time for me to drop the strawberry and trigger the flash). Flash was controlled by a wireless trigger not connected to the camera since I would be setting off the flash manually.

Sequence of events went as followed:
1. Trip the camera shutter
2. Drop the strawberry
3. Trigger the flash when it hit the spoon
4. Add more milk to the spoon and repeat

If anyone has any... more »

2013-05-13 13:42:21 (13 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

Lacewing Larvae

Not quite as plump as the last one I posted.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

#MacroMonday  for +Kelli Seeger Kim, +Kerry Murphy, +Jennifer Eden, +Jake Easley

2013-05-13 05:29:06 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

Here's my "texture" entry for +Chrysta Rae's Photography Scavenger Hunt. 20-frame focus stack of a strawberry. Pretty hairy things when you get up close. I actually had enough to have the leaves in perfect focus as well, but it seemed that my camera was slowly sagging so I left those frames out so I didn't have to crop anything.

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers

2013-05-12 15:53:54 (14 comments, 2 reshares, 30 +1s)

Spider

Found it crawling up my bedroom door. I caught it and put it in a container that I forgot about for two days. I come back and find this. A couple pics before letting it go in the backyard.

Special Mothers Day edition of #SpiderSunday  for +Kimberly Hosey & +Mandy Allen

2013-05-10 13:41:36 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

Lacewing Larvae

A rather big one. Seems it has no problem finding food.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

#BuggyFriday  for +Ray Bilcliff, +Sherry McBriar, +Dorothy Pugh, +Victoria Etna
#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Chris Levers, +Bill Urwin
#YellowforMylah  

2013-05-09 14:05:12 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 37 +1s)

One of the boys

Found an andromorph female I did. I couldn't get around these reeds for any other angle so I went for straight from up top. The space on the left can be used for some inspirational quote lol.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers
#OdonataPoker  for +viviane godenne

2013-05-08 15:27:40 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 35 +1s)

Globe Mallow Bee
Diadasia diminuta

Seems the only time I can get them are when they're done for the day and ready to roost inside a flower. When they're active, they're way too fast for me.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers

2013-05-07 13:42:54 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 23 +1s)

Damselflies Mating

There were several mating damsels in this area, but it still took a good 10 minutes or so for a pair to let me get close enough for this kind of shot. I had the front eye in focus, but not the part between it and the simple eyes so I decided to leave this as a single shot and not focus stack it.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers
#OdonataPoker  for +viviane godenne

2013-05-06 13:46:47 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

Kiowa Dancer

It was fun and new seeing how extreme I could get with the DSLR rig which was around 3:1, but I had to step it back a bit. My keeper rate at 3:1 was very low, mainly because I need to find a way to better stabilize the camera. I took off the extra extension tubes and used just the helicoid for this pic. Not sure of the exact magnification, but it's around 1:1.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ

#MacroMonday  for +Kerry Murphy, +Kelli Seeger Kim, +Jennifer Eden, +Jake Easley
#macro4all  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers
#OdonataPoker  for +viviane godenne

2013-05-06 03:43:11 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 37 +1s)

Rambur's Forktail

More and more are coming out to play =)
2-frame focus stack.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ

#Macro4all  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers
#OdonataPoker  for +viviane godenne

2013-05-05 06:20:26 (7 comments, 3 reshares, 27 +1s)

Wasp

New things for me every time I've been going out =) First time I've seen a wasp with this coloration.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers
#BugsEveryday  for +Chris Mallory

2013-05-03 14:46:17 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

It took a team of engineers 12 years to get this fly-sized drone off the ground. Watch it in action: http://on.mash.to/YhOKiB

2013-05-03 13:23:58 (12 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Turkey Burger

The turkey was good, but it was just a tad bit dry.

Fuddruckers
Mesa, AZ

#FoodFriday  for +Jenn Oliver, +Moon Lee, +D. DeMonteverde, +Natty Netsuwan

2013-05-03 13:19:13 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 32 +1s)

Bee Fly

Last shot I have of this one. Makes me think of Gonzo.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

Nikon D7000 w/Tamron 48.5mm enlarger lens

#BuggyFriday  for +Ray Bilcliff, +Sherry McBriar, +Dorothy Pugh, and +Victoria Etna
#SexyFly  for +Shane Williams
#YellowforMylah  

2013-05-02 13:09:31 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 38 +1s)

Bee Fly

Season is starting out great for me. Already seeing a lot of different species like this little fella. I'm used to seeing the rounder flying balls of hair of these flies.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

Nikon D7000 w/Tamron 48.5mm enlarger lens

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers
#bugseveryday  for +Chris Mallory
#yellowformylah

2013-05-01 13:23:32 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 34 +1s)

Blue Dasher

Earlier in the week I posted the ~2:1 version. Here's the ~3:1 version to test the maximum magnification of this rig and the new lens.

Nikon D7000, Tamron 48.5mm enlarger lens reversed on extension tubes. Lens set to f/8. Single frame, no cropping.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

#Odonatapoker  for +viviane godenne
#macro4all  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers

2013-04-30 13:40:38 (12 comments, 3 reshares, 33 +1s)

Blue Dasher

One of the more artsy shots of my short session with this dragonfly. Around 2:1 magnification. View it large to check out the honeycomb pattern on the compound eyes.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers
#OdonataPoker  for +viviane godenne

2013-04-29 15:26:29 (23 comments, 4 reshares, 40 +1s)

Blue Dasher

Won an enlarger lens on eBay and it came in just in time for the weekend =) Of course I had to go test it out. Seems like it might be just a tad bit better than my El-Nikkor 50mm, but I'll have to do a little more testing.

The enlarger lens is a Tamron 48.5mm f/2.8 made for Noritsu printers. Not bad for something I won for under $20.

Single shot since I don't have a focusing rail yet and my hand is not steady enough for handheld focus stacks at this magnification.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

#MacroMonday  for +Kerry Murphy, +Kelli Seeger Kim, +Jennifer Eden, +Jake Easley
#OdonataPoker  for +viviane godenne
#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers

2013-04-26 13:48:34 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

Sunflower

One of the many wild sunflowers out right now.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

#FloralFriday  for +Tamara Pruessner
#YellowforMylah

2013-04-26 13:43:03 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 36 +1s)

Western Pygmy Blue

Going into the archives until I can get some free time to get some new shots. I think I ID'd this one right.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

Canon Powershot G12 with Raynox DCR-250 & Marumi DHG-200

#BuggyFriday  for +Ray Bilcliff, +Sherry McBriar, +Dorothy Pugh, +Victoria Etna
#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers

2013-04-25 13:58:06 (13 comments, 1 reshares, 38 +1s)

Weevil
Coniatus tamarisci

Found a hitchhiker on my car yesterday. Brought it in for some studio shots. Background is a scrapbooking background sheet.

From what I've read, they're used as a means to control the spread of tamarisk or saltcedar, an invasive plant species. More about it here http://arizonabeetlesbugsbirdsandmore.blogspot.com/2010/05/weevil-for-biological-control-of.html

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin, +Chris Levers

2013-04-24 13:44:26 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Baiting

Found this little guy on my bedroom window the other day. It didn't seem too active so I caught it and brought it in for a small session. While captive it wouldn't stop moving and it crawled all over the container. It didn't fly around once so I thought I would try a little baiting. This was the first time I've ever tried baiting an insect

I didn't want the piece of paper getting wet so I put down a piece of scotch tape and a drop of water on it. It was uninterested so I added a drop of agave into the water (the only sweetener I had around) and that seemed to work. I took the container off and fired off a few shots before it had its fill. It never went back to the bait after that so I let it go.

I haven't had a chance to ID this tiny wasp yet.

#WaspWednesday  for +Chris Mallory

2013-04-23 13:36:46 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 25 +1s)

Damselfly

A different damsel from yesterday. They all seemed to be in one area and mostly females. The few males I did see were shy and wouldn't let me get close enough. It didn't help that this was after work in the afternoon while they were really active.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ
2-frame stack

#odonatapoker  for +viviane godenne
#macro4all  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Bill Urwin, +Aamir Shahzad, +Mark O'Callaghan

2013-04-23 04:00:18 (11 comments, 4 reshares, 30 +1s)

Damselfly Portrait

Almost there. One of the things that I wanted to get a picture of when I first started macro was a frame filling damselfly head. This was about 3:1 with the El-Nikkor 50mm and tubes. I don't want to get any more tubes so I'll be looking for a 28mm or 24mm enlarger lens next which should give me more magnification with the tubes I already have.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert, AZ

#odonatapoker  for +viviane godenne
#macromonday  for +Kerry Murphy, +Kelli Seeger Kim, +Jennifer Eden, +Jake Easley

2013-04-19 13:40:43 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 29 +1s)

Desert Globemallow

Orange seems to be the most common color for them here.

#FloralFriday  for +Tamara Pruessner

2013-04-19 13:06:44 (14 comments, 1 reshares, 28 +1s)

Drone Fly

Nothing new so here's one from the archives.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

Canon Powershot G12 w/Raynox DCR-250 and Marumi DHG-200.

#BuggyFriday  for +Ray Bilcliff, +Sherry McBriar, +Dorothy Pugh, and +Victoria Etna
#SexyFly  for +Shane Williams

2013-04-18 14:02:56 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

Assassin Bug

Just about done going through my photo's from last weeks outing. Time to get more photos somewhere this weekend.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

Nikon D7000 w/reversed El-Nikkor 50mm on extension tubes

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Aamir Shahzad, & +Bill Urwin

2013-04-18 04:34:27 (12 comments, 1 reshares, 34 +1s)

Fly

Playing with the D.O. Industries enlarger lens at 3x. It was set to f11. I think I need to open it up a little more. Seems just a tad bit soft or that just may be how the lens is.

#SexyFly  for +Shane Williams

2013-04-15 13:58:40 (12 comments, 4 reshares, 33 +1s)

Is this how you want me to pose?

Another shot from Saturday morning's outing. I took a good 40-50 shots of this wedge-shaped beetle since I've never seen it before and because it let me. It's actually just cleaning itself in this shot.

Fact I've learned - their larvae are parasitoids mostly associated with bees and wasps.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

#MacroMonday  for +Kelli Seeger Kim, +Kerry Murphy, +Jennifer Eden, and +Jake Easley
#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Aamir Shahzad, and +Bill Urwin

2013-04-14 16:45:00 (14 comments, 3 reshares, 25 +1s)

Ant Mimic

Not the best, but the best I could take at the time. I was watching my kids at the park and I noticed an ant looking thing on the bench I was sitting on. It didn't look like any ant I've seen before so I took a closer look. Biggest clue was when it left the bench it didn't just fall, it went down slow like spiders do.

I caught it in the case for my enlarger lens while I put my kit together for a couple pics before letting it go do its thing. My kids kept wanting to touch it.

Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

  #SpiderSunday  for +Kimberly Hosey & +Mandy Allen

2013-04-13 20:36:27 (19 comments, 1 reshares, 37 +1s)

Wedge-shaped Beetle

First true outing with the DSLR kit and I find this gorgeous beetle. I think it's about time I start saving for a Newport 420 linear stage. I would have liked to get enough shots to get the face and antenna in focus, but around 2x my hands aren't steady enough to get a good series.

Family Ripiphoridae
Veteran's Oasis Park
Chandler, AZ

Thank you +Alex Wild for the ID.

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Aamir Shahzad, +Mark O'Callaghan, +Bill Urwin

2013-04-12 14:54:49 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 18 +1s)

Steak Rusticana

Easily becoming one of my favorite places to eat.

Babbo Italian Eatery
Mesa, AZ

#FoodFriday  for +D. DeMonteverde, +Natty Netsuwan, and +Jenn Oliver

2013-04-12 13:37:49 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Collection

Bee doing what it does best.

#BuggyFriday  for +Ray Bilcliff, +Sherry McBriar, +Dorothy Pugh, +Victoria Etna
#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Aamir Shahzad, +Bill Urwin, +Mark O'Callaghan 

2013-04-11 13:47:09 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 30 +1s)

Curls

Backlit from the sun and fill flash in front. I didn't notice when I was taking the pictures, but it looks like there's three aphids on this. Not sure if they're all the same kind.

#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Bill Urwin, +Aamir Shahzad, +Mark O'Callaghan 

2013-04-08 21:13:53 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Bugs aren't the only things attracted to lights...

Waiting for the First Friday trolley at the Phoenix Art Museum.

Taken with my phone (HTC Radar) and edited with Fhotoroom.

2013-04-07 16:49:23 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 32 +1s)

Wolf Spider

Another shot of the wolfie I caught. This one with the El-Nikkor 50mm. Almost looks like sad puppy dog eyes. I fed it a fly before I let it go in my backyard.

#SpiderSunday  for +Kimberly Hosey & +Mandy Allen

2013-04-07 15:36:29 (8 comments, 4 reshares, 14 +1s)

Wolf Spider

Caught this guy in the garage and brought it in for a little photo session. Testing out a cheap enlarger lens that I recently bought. Seems to be pretty good.

D.O. Industries 50mm enlarger lens
http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/l3221.html

#SpiderSunday  for +Kimberly Hosey & +Mandy Allen

2013-04-05 13:29:56 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 32 +1s)

Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp

Profile shot of the wasp I posted earlier this week.

#BuggyFriday  for +Ray Bilcliff, +Sherry McBriar, +Dorothy Pugh, +Victoria Etna
#Macro4All  for +Walter Soestbergen, +Bill Urwin, +Aamir Shahzad, +Mark O'Callaghan

2013-04-04 15:28:37 (22 comments, 2 reshares, 32 +1s)

Hoverfly

Seeing the hoverfly that +Derek Hauffe posted made me want to post one too. Love these little guys.

#SexyFly  for +Shane Williams
#macro4all  for +Walter Soestbergen
#yellowformylah

2013-04-04 13:41:02 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

Cactus Bee

Getting all cozy before the flower closes up for the night.

#BeeThursday  for +Dorothy Pugh
#macro4all  for +Walter Soestbergen 

2013-04-03 14:03:53 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

Here's what I've been playing with lately.

Not called out are the friction arm and the flash bracket. The tabletop tripod was just to get it off the ground. I rarely use it. At some point I'll color the outside of the hood black. The inside of the tubes are lined with the same material as the lens hood.

The cardstock I got at Hobby Lobby. Doodlebug Crushed Velvet "Beetle Black". It's found in the specialty paper section.

I can get 2:1 as pictured. With the helicoid fully extended, I can get to 3:1.