There's only one thing stops a hoverfly in mid flight.. Male hoverfly Syritta pipiens

Male hoverfly Syritta pipiens eyeing up a female hoverfly on a potentilla flower.
See www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/942938534/ for what happened next.
Taken at 1:1 uncropped

Comments and faves

  1. ★

    Emilofero, fotografgox, almost3299, Brian-D, and 3174 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. almost3299 (71 months ago | reply)

    this is cool.

    --
    Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)

  3. Brian-D (71 months ago | reply)

    Perfect in flight shot

    --
    Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)

  4. Tasslehoff Burrfoot (71 months ago | reply)

    the god of macro, lord V...
    i don't have much words for you.. congratulations!

  5. buzlu_viski (71 months ago | reply)

    Amazing shot!!
    Congratulations...

  6. Wontolla65 (71 months ago | reply)

    I thought YOU were the only one

  7. AirBrontosaurus (71 months ago | reply)

    Wow. Wow, wow, wow and wow.

    Did I mention wow?

  8. AndyBrink (71 months ago | reply)

    truly amazing shot sir. many congrats

  9. zogt2000 (No Video) (71 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful!

  10. no1chrism (71 months ago | reply)

    Superb

  11. Robert Wurth (Zuiun) - Studio Orange Photography (71 months ago | reply)

    Very nice! I had one of these guys hovering perfectly for me. Only one problem: He was so far back in the flowers that I couldn't get at him as close as I wanted. Looks like this one cooperated for you, though.

  12. LoneQuark [deleted] (71 months ago | reply)

    That is superb, excellent capture!!

  13. Everything is Permuted (71 months ago | reply)

    Brilliant shot!

  14. stormahawk (71 months ago | reply)

    Brilliant, amazing..etc.. wow good work!

  15. Jeff Clow (71 months ago | reply)

    In flight - really an amazing moment....and shot.

    Superb.

  16. JBR_JBR (71 months ago | reply)

    in flight shots of insects are absolutely the hardest thing to get. and this is perfect wow. great shot

  17. raineys (71 months ago | reply)

    This is incredible!!!

    ....I've faved and tagged this one "QUALITY" and am hoping you will join and post it to:
    www.flickr.com/groups/quality_photography/
    where photographic quality such as this gets recognition and inspires others...

  18. SteveMcN (71 months ago | reply)

    This is stunning! Do you submit any images to the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition? This one should really be in the exhibition this autumn!

  19. Landersz (71 months ago | reply)

    another stunning macro in your stream!

  20. Cory' (71 months ago | reply)

    Well bugga me Lord V, this is amazing

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Cream Of The Crop Animal Pics **INVITED PICS ONLY**, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

  21. visualdensity (71 months ago | reply)

    wow! a superfly in action. awesome.

  22. ShUtTeR PrO (71 months ago | reply)

    Well done

    WINNER
    You are my winner!
    Please add this photo to
    www.flickr.com/groups/mywinners/

  23. Edir Manzano (71 months ago | reply)

    wow man... amazing shot... incredible...

  24. Dashuki Mohd (71 months ago | reply)

    Amazing .... really amazing !

  25. MSimpson (71 months ago | reply)

    I bow down to you Master.
    You are a Macro genious.

  26. Jesse Kruger (71 months ago | reply)

    WOW!

    1. How?
    2. Please how?
    3. No really, how?

  27. Kelly~Brooke (71 months ago | reply)

    Holy Crap!!! that is amazing!! He looks like he has a big grin on his face!!!

  28. tadelloeser  (71 months ago | reply)

    If I could once take such a capture ... Great!
    I think this photo is a
    Super Shot
    Please add your photo to www.flickr.com/groups/supershot/
    After you add it to the group pool, please tag this photo as a SuperShot

    --
    Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)

  29. Lord V (71 months ago | reply)

    Thanks for the kind comments everyone :)
    macroninja- this is a good example of watching your subject before trying to take a shot. These male hoveflies patrol their area and are very hard to shoot like that, but when they spot a female hoverfly they go into a rock steady hover for about 15 seconds whilst they determine the attractiveness of the female and if "attractive " they dive bomb her and mate.
    Brian V.

  30. Giorgos~ (71 months ago | reply)

    WINNER
    Definitely a winner!!!
    You deserve another one.
    Found in www.flickr.com/groups/mywinners/

  31. Asadbabil (super busy) (71 months ago | reply)

    Excellent shot. Not only a female but you could freeze it like that. Well done.

  32. CORDAN (71 months ago | reply)

    WINNER
    Definitely a winner!!!
    You deserve another one.
    Found in www.flickr.com/groups/mywinners/

  33. El Jeffal (71 months ago | reply)

    That's really fantastic!!

  34. El Jeffal (71 months ago | reply)

    I think this photo is a
    Super Shot
    Please add your photo to www.flickr.com/groups/supershot/
    After you add it to the group pool, please tag this photo as a SuperShot

    And it is a:
    You Are A Blue Ribbon Winner! If you haven't done so, please add your photo to:
    Blue Ribbon Photography (Invited Images ONLY)
    Please tag your photo: BlueRibbonWinner

  35. D-K-D (71 months ago | reply)


    Congratulations! Your photo has been nominated as "Superb Masterpiece"
    You are invited to add your wonderful picture to Superb Masterpiece Group
    Please     read the Group Rules and tag your photo SuperbMasterpiece

  36. Clickr_Flickr (71 months ago | reply)

    Magically magic!

    I saw your great picture in Superb Masterpiece Group

  37. Clickr_Flickr (71 months ago | reply)

    An Awesome ShotAn Awesome Shot Award
    You are invited to add this image to An Awesome Shot!
    ~CONTESTS~ Enter/Vote now
    Please tag the photo with "AnAwesomeShot"

  38. Lord V (71 months ago | reply)

    Thanks for the kind comments everyone :)
    The shot is not as hard as it might appear.- when these guys spot a suitable female on a flower they hover nearly stock still whilst they decide the "attractiveness" of the female. This one obviously liked what he saw :)

    SteveMcN Have thought about it but was put off previously by the entrance fee I think they have (I just object to that)
    Brian V.

  39. Cignale (71 months ago | reply)

    : O

  40. danihernanz (71 months ago | reply)

    one of the best macro i have seen!. congrats. its fantastic
    A Big FaveA Big Fave
    You are invited to add this image to www.flickr.com/groups/bigfave
    Please tag this photo with ABigFave when you add it to the pool.

  41. belthelem (71 months ago | reply)

    Wonderfull picture!

    ~Wow This is an Awesome photo! I saw this in
    An Awesome Shot!
    An Awesome Shot Award!! (Invite only images)
    Please tag your photos AnAwesomeShot

  42. pongo 2007 (71 months ago | reply)

    Absolutely fantastic!

    I agree, this is definitely a

    Super Shot

    If you have not already done so, please add your photo to www.flickr.com/groups/supershot/
    After you add it to the group pool, please tag this photo as a SuperShot.

  43. Maakx (71 months ago | reply)


    This Great Photographic Art was made by a Five Stars
    Please add your photo to Five Stars The Five Stars Class Photographer
    Read the Group Rules please and tag your photo FiveStarsPhotograph
    You may tag your photo again as FiveStars

  44. James L Pearson (71 months ago | reply)

    Very cool capture. Great focus. Well done on Explore front page!

    --
    Seen on the explore page. (?)

  45. kingbriani (71 months ago | reply)

    Amazing shot!! you must have lightning-quick reflexes!! A fave.

  46. wazari (71 months ago | reply)

    Really fantastic shot, your skills are amazing...


    I have seen your "Superb Masterpiece Picture" in:
    Superb Masterpiece Group - Invited photos only

  47. mimbrava (71 months ago | reply)

    Outstanding capture and a fine example of how to take a natural history photo: by learning the ways of your subject.

    I have faved and tagged your picture with BRAVO and this serves as an invitation to The Best: BRAVO.

  48. TJuk1980 (71 months ago | reply)

    wow!

  49. Imapix (71 months ago | reply)

    YOU ARE THE BEST

    WOW!

    Cheers!

  50. rasmusboldt.dk (71 months ago | reply)

    WOW this is amazing, very nice shot

  51. Edd Del Vecchio [deleted] (71 months ago | reply)

    Simply amazing, well deserved to be on the front page!

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