Arches

Sometimes it's about more than the subject. This is one of the oldest shots on the site, and I must admit that I've forgotten the exact species, but I've always loved the curve of the leaf along with the antennas against the black background. It almost appears to be glowing. I've tried to replicate the shot several times, but it requires the insect to be perfectly set against the perfect leaf, a scene which is quite rare to come by.

Dandelion Seeds

Did I actually catch these dandelion seeds just as they passed? No, like in many photographs there is a bit of trickier here. They were actually supported by the tiniest of strands, which I conveniently processed out to give the illusion that they were freely falling. Still, the seeds were naturally in this exact position and I couldn't resist a shot. One thing I've noticed about nature is that she loves positioning things in ways where, even had we placed them ourselves, we wouldn't have done as good of a job.

Pillbug

The rolly polly, also called the pill bug or woodlice. These are among the easiest little creatures to see as around here all one needs to do is turn over virtually any log. They love eating decomposed materials, and will roll into a ball when disturbed. However, don't go calling them insects. They're actually crustaceans, and are more closely related to lobsters than bugs.

The View Down

One fun thing to do with a macro lens is carefully sift through some leaf litter. While doing so I found this cute little snail. While from plain sight one would hardly notice it, thanks to an extreme macro lens I was able to obtain this shot. It probably was wondering what was going on, single I had suddenly lifted its leaf, causing the snail's entire universe to change.

Beetle Pose

This beetle, which is not a ladybug, travelled up this lone blade of grass, then briefly rested there for me to get this shot. Ladybugs and similar beetles can actually be challenging to photograph since they rarely sit still. Even this one was constantly moving, but thanks to a flash and multiple shots I managed to get it in this pose. There's a wide debate whether insects are automatons - basically robots reacting to stimula - or have more complex thought processes such as humans and animals. While I profess to not having enough information to take a side, that doesn't prevent me from capturing them in poses that suggest the latter.

The Aphid That Got Away

A ladybug spreads its front legs as if telling a fishing tale. Ladybugs are one of my favorite insects to photograph, since their red shells contrast wonderfully with the green they typically inhabit. They can be difficult to photograph, since flashes often bounce in difficult ways off their backs, causing glaring highlights. I've had to use special diffusers to counteract it. Of course in this photo, the ladybug was nice enough to sit toward me while explaining its story about the aphid that got away.

Jump!

A ladybug seemingly jumps from a pile of moss. No, the ladybug wasn't jumping - but was just reaching up momentarily. Thanks to a flash and good timing, I made it appear like the insect was jumping up. Ladybugs are fascinating to photograph, and almost never stop moving. This provides an endless series of very different photographs, if one has the patience.

Fly + Cabbage

This is what happens when you invite me places. When my wife's uncle invited us over for lunch, I of course brought my camera, then quickly zero'd in on some flies helping themselves to his cabbage plants. Flies eat through their proboscis, which acts rather like a wet sponge in sucking up ingredients. It's one reason why you really don't want them on your food. Still, I was super excited to get this clear photo, and after I proudly displayed it on my viewfinder, not everyone was still hungry.

Nature's Pumpkin

Nature has the habit of placing things in better positions than we could do ourselves. One only needs to pay attention. This orange leaf was taken in the first month of my photo project, which I continue to this day. I found it perfectly positioned after a light rain and grabbed this shot. Afterwards, it became one of the first shots I printed. Originally I intended this as part of a series, which each leaf a different color, but I ended up taking only one other shot and I never completed it.365 Project #29.

Ready...Set...Jump!

For someone who doesn't like spiders, the idea of a jumping spider is rather unsettling. Personally however, if anyone could ever call a spider "cute" it would have to be a jumping one. Though we don't have nearly the beautiful ones found in places like Arizona and Australia, the Northwest does have a number who can be rather shy. It takes a lot of patience and practice to photograph them, since our varieties will take off the instant you get too close - and of course macro photography requires one to get very close. Most jumping spiders are extremely tiny, and a lot of magnification is necessary to bring out their cute faces. I've tried to explain this to my wife, but she still shudders whenever I present a photo of one.365 Project #185.

Larval Exercise

To be honest, I have no idea what kind of larva this is. Larva, in fact, often trick even trained entomolygists. On a few occasions I've showed a picture of one only to receive a guess. You really need an expert in that particular type of insect to have any hope of an answer. That didn't stop me from capturing this rather cute pose. While I wouldn't be surprised that this critter grew into something ugly, in this stage it was rather cute while it swayed from the leaf in an effort to determine what was happening. Since I was poking around in the leaf litter when I found it, the poor critter's world had just been turned upside down!365 Project #219.

A Hard Day's Work

Bees are one seriously overworked insect. One reason the queens lay so many eggs is that the mortality rate for workers is so high. While I'm sure this particular one was doing something other than wipe the sweat from its brows, the photo certainly gives the illusion of it. I've actually always been scared of bees, and to this day you won't find photos from me of wasps or hornets, but at least in the case of bees - spending time with them to photograph has been someone cathartic. I've slowly realized that most bees here are not aggressive - and are far more interested in getting their work done than in stinging me.365 Project #222.

Aphid Farming

An ant collects honeydew from one of its "farmed" aphids. Ants and aphids commonly have a symbiotic relationship. The ants feed on the honeydew secreted from the aphids, and in return they protect the aphids from any predators. The aphids even allow the ants to pick them up and relocate them as necessary. Ants also help protect aphids from diseases, by removing any infected aphids. In many ways, this is a lot like farming.365 Project #235.

The Kill

A crab spider catches its prey. These species of crab spiders, like many others, have something that enables them to blend in with the flowers they inhabit, much like a chameleon. When flies or bees come down to pollinate, they're immediately grabbed and consumed. This particular fly demonstrated this the hard way. These flowers used to be next to my work building, and during lunch in the right season I'd take my camera down in the hope of catching the moment. Come to think of it, my lunches were rather unusual in that regard.365 Project #258.

Pollen Snack

A fly grabs pollen from a flower. I love the fly's eyes as juxtaposed to the white of the flower here, and for years I've used this image as my work profile photo. Of course, some found it a bit unsettling when I'd join a Skype for Business online meeting and this huge photo of a fly would appear on the screen. That being said, they immediately knew it was me. This particular fly was found on a train not far from my work building. That's one of the great things about macro. You don't need to travel far for shots. 365 Project #265.

Assassin

Horror movies have nothing on the insect world. This is the robber fly, one of the most vicious buggers around. Their long proboscis is sharp enough to give a wincing bite to a human, and some of the largest flies have been known to take down hummingbirds. This one found a much smaller prey in this tiny fly. The proboscis is inserted into its prey, where it then secretes a substance that turns the insides into jelly. The robber fly then sucks the contents like a smoothie through a straw and leaves the hollow exoskeleton as a warning. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I never ever want to come back as an insect. 365 Project #286.

Life on a Leaf

A pacific tree frog hangs out on a leaf. I actually took this shot only a few feet from my building at work. I often took my camera out during lunch to see what I could find, and to my surprise I located this small frog. It was very patient with me while I changed lenses, then strove for that perfect composition with the curving leaf. Perhaps it felt it blended in enough, but I'll always be grateful to this little frog for letting me have the opportunity. In recent times, they've been quite difficult to locate. 365 Project #329.

On the Curve

A leafhopper perches on the edge of a leaf. These small insects can be quite difficult to photograph, since they have very good eyesight and aren't keen to let me photograph. They typically take off, but every once in awhile I find a patient one. This particular one was kind enough to find a picturesque spot, enabling me to get the curve of the leaf's edge. 365 Project #342.

Everyone Needs a Friend

Two ants greet each other over a leaf. Ants actually communicate most often through pheremones, which are chemicals secreted from glands. These chemicals tell others how to find food sources, or warn of danger. There are a great many different signals and scientists continue to discover new ones. In this particular case, I believe they are sharing some food. Ants are among the most fascinating creatures to photograph due to their complex behaviors. 365 Project #363.

Bubble Dancing

I cheated a little bit with this shot. While the springtail, which are so tiny that you can barely notice one with the eyes, was indeed on the water drop, it was actually hanging upside down. However, after I took the photo I felt it was more dramatic when turned right side up, so I did so. Regardless on the orientation, I still find it cool that this insect is so small that it can literally walk on top of a water drop. I only wonder what possessed it to do so. Photo Project #481.

Coqui

Anyone who's been to Puerto Rico is familiar with the coqui. They're native to the island, and make their distinctive "co-qui" sound throughout the night. Though loudly heard, they're quite difficult to see. Masters of hiding and of throwing their voices, it takes quite a bit of effort to find one. They're also rather skittish and capable of moving blindingly fast, making capturing a decent photo all the more difficult. I spent quite a bit of time with a flashlight searching for them, then had countless ones jump just when I thought I had the shot. However, with patience and perseverance, I got this shot. Photo Project #533.