Face of a Southern Yellowjacket Queen (Vespula squamosa)
This past Friday, I went to a public lecture by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and was surprised to see that he used this image in his presentation. I remembered seeing the image on flickr a few times, and thought to myself that it would be great if had used some of my images I have posted, but obviously my images are not as well known. Some salticid images probably would have been a well recieved addition to his lecture...
This morning I set out to look for jumping spiders as I often do, and decided to flip over a wooden platform were I know a Phidippus audax lives ( Click here to watch a video of this spider eating a harvestman ) and was surprised to find this female yellowjacket hanging out in the shade beneath the platform. She may have just come out of hibernation, so she didn't seem too keen on flying away, but kind of waddled around a bit slowly, giving me a chance to get a few photos.
The above image is a crop from an image taken with the 50mm reversed to a few extension tubes. Make sure to view it in the largest size to appreciate all the fine detail!
Quite a beautiful wasp, hopefully I can find a male someday.
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For those of you interested - some new artwork of mine is posted here:
Comments and faves
scubapup, Deniz ŞENSOY, A.alFoudry, Jus'fi, and 706 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Thomas Shahan (51 months ago | reply)
A full-body view:
scubapup (51 months ago | reply)
damn!
hugoboss85 (51 months ago | reply)
Waouh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
Magnifique...
Deniz ŞENSOY (51 months ago | reply)
O.M.G.
it's great
it's wonderful
it's gorgeous
storvandre (51 months ago | reply)
fantastic,as usual in your photos :)
» visit the THINK BIG photoblog
Seen on your photo stream. (?²ˣ)
Jus'fi (51 months ago | reply)
Superb macro!
Matt Romack Photography (51 months ago | reply)
amazing!
Jose Lorente Photography [deleted] (51 months ago | reply)
Que pasada!!!!!!!!!!
Goshinsky (51 months ago | reply)
Incredible shot!
Antonio Martín (ojodepezruso) (51 months ago | reply)
Impresionante.
luis ferreira fotografia (51 months ago | reply)
Fantastic!
Bionic Rhonda, formally Cindersmom (51 months ago | reply)
Your posting takes my breath away... so outstanding and such an immediate instant fave... I'll have to get the extension tubes, as I adore insects..
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JKmedia (51 months ago | reply)
Unbelievably close! What are you using? I dont get it
freebird4 (51 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Macro Marvels (Invite only) Post 1 Comment 2, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Awesome :))
n o r d i o (51 months ago | reply)
Fantastic .......!!!!!!
Jason Collin (51 months ago | reply)
Great macro close-up especially considering only a 50mm lens was used.
Shutter Moments (51 months ago | reply)
Absolutely gorgeous macro shot! Superb details and great DOF.
Really cool perspective too.
So you mounted the extension tubes (how long?) to the camera and a reversed 50mm prime to that? Is that correct?
no1chrism (51 months ago | reply)
Great shot...what do you use to diffuse the flash?
DefJux921 (51 months ago | reply)
insane macro!
Thomas Shahan (51 months ago | reply)
Thanks everyone, I'm glad you guys like the photo!
JKmedia- I'm using a vintage 1970's Pentax SMC 50mm f/1.7 prime lens reversed on a set of extension tubes.
If you can believe it, this is a relatively low magnification macro for me... I probably could have taken a full frame photo of just the area between the antennae if she would have stayed still!
This may look close, but remember, yellowjackets are very large insects!
Shutter Moments-Thanks. Correct. I used about 40-50mm worth of extension tubes with just the 50mm reversed.
Imagine if I had used my 28mm reversed to my bellows! (which is ~155mm worth of extension!)
no1chrism- Thank you. A home-made flash diffuser/softbox with tinfoil on the inside and a sheet of paper towel inbetween plastic on the end.
(Look at the additional shots for this photo to see what it looks like)
dizzyanna (51 months ago | reply)
Incredible shot, one day I hope to be able to do this. ;o)
chrias. (51 months ago | reply)
oh my god. this is intense!!!
tomatito rodriguez (51 months ago | reply)
Superb!!!
me_schmidt (51 months ago | reply)
Wow! Thats is really intense. but very cool
jamelikat (51 months ago | reply)
back, standing, admiration, in.
Fotos Leandro (51 months ago | reply)
WOW!!! Fantastic!!! wonderful macro and details!
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Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
StephsShoes (51 months ago | reply)
Wow, amazing macro!!!
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Seen in Animal Closeups (?)
Kriss on flickr (51 months ago | reply)
I'm surprised none of your pics have already been use for a publication !
They diserve it for sure.
rafael milani [deleted] (51 months ago | reply)
stunning!
=Manu= (51 months ago | reply)
What a fantastic macro. Large version surely shows the beauty of the wasp as well as your expertise. Great details!
ralph_65 (51 months ago | reply)
wonderfull
bortozz (51 months ago | reply)
fantastik
!!!!!!!
vinmhz (51 months ago | reply)
stupenda
Sam Martin (abikeOdyssey) (51 months ago | reply)
I saw the dawins talk as well...It was amazing, I was also really close to the yelling guy who stormed out and got some close-up shots of him...he had one of his cameras (the one around his neck) wrapped in a plastic bag. It was very strange.
d.photogal (51 months ago | reply)
whoa! insane shot... amazing detail
Mystic Wolf Eyes [deleted] (51 months ago | reply)
This beautiful photo was seen at:
"The World Up-Close (Nature Macro)".
Jonas Rasmussen (51 months ago | reply)
That is macro :P lovely shot
heyrod (51 months ago | reply)
A beauty
One award from MacroFoted Group
www.flickr.com/groups/macrofoted/
J.R.Photography (51 months ago | reply)
Really well done! Detail, sharpness, and tones are amazing!
arbil (51 months ago | reply)
Absolutely stunning head shot!
fidia (51 months ago | reply)
Superb macro. The detail and the lighting is absolutely
stunning. Congratulations!
Christopher Rauch (51 months ago | reply)
wow.
DevilDonnie70 (51 months ago | reply)
very cool
This fantastic macro was seen in:
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matildashelia (51 months ago | reply)
Brilliant Work!!
Seen In Beautiful Bugs!
Jοey (51 months ago | reply)
Outstanding detail my friend! If they used your macros for a presentation nobody would be able to concentrate on the speaker.. they'd all be floored by the images! :)
Extraordinary !! Definitely a winner!
and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
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edgardotc (51 months ago | reply)
Bellísimo macro.Felicidades.
This fantastic macro was seen in:
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liewwk - www.liewwkphoto.com (51 months ago | reply)
beautiful wasp
pk.peka (51 months ago | reply)
impressive !!
Sara-D (51 months ago | reply)
stunning macro
Joe Rainbow (51 months ago | reply)
Superb shot and great that old dawkins used your pics! I would have charged a premium though.