I don't usually repost the same animal on here twice, but I was just browsing through my archive of older bug photos taken with my Pentax *ist DL and found this nice shot of a male Tabanus lineola horse fly I took back in May 2008. I originally passed this shot up for the photo seen directly below (this one), which had a more dynamic angle and a generally more successful composition. What do you guys think?
I can remember sitting outside working on a hot summer day in 2007 and spotting one these beautiful T. lineola males land right on the sign I was painting. I was immediately awestruck by the beauty of its pale blonde compound eyes accented by the darker bands of color and just knew they would be amazing to view up close. This was early on in my experiences with macrophotography and I didn't have my camera with me at the time. I contemplated leaving my post to go find a camera, but bugs rarely stay put, and I just reminded myself of the "if they're in my area, I'll see them again" rule.
And indeed - I did spot one again in the early summer of 2008 and got some nice shots of the specimen seen here. I've spotted many stunning T. lineola males since then - but have had no luck tracking down a female of the species which have those colorful bands covering the entire eye! These guys also perform some really odd arm movements that almost remind me of the frantic signaling of salticids.
It's worth noting that male Tabanids are are completely harmless as they merely feed on nectar and pollen. It's the females that have those wonderfully vicious scissor-like mouthparts that easily rip through human flesh. To determine the gender of large Tabanids - the females are the ones with seperated compound eyes (As seen here.)
To read more about the compound eyes of arthropods check out the Wikipedia page (featuring one of my photographs as an illustration) on ommatidium here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ommatidium
...and I finally have a new piece up at my art account here:
www.flickr.com/photos/panbasket/4179859188/
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I really appreciate everyone's comments and support - but once again I'm going to ask you all to refrain from posting all those big flashing group invite pictures in the comments. It's alright if you want if you want to to invite me to a group, and I appreciate the enthusiasm, but try to understand that they are interpreted by some as a bit annoying. Don't take it personally if I delete your comment due to this.
So in short - just don't follow your group rules.
integrity_of_light, tipulidae, Ozark Bill, paulobrazyl, and 498 other people added this photo to their favorites.
View 20 more comments
pinzur 33 months ago | reply
Never seen anything like it. Your shots are amazing. Gives the rest of us something to aspire too. Just stunning. Well done.
pablincillo. 33 months ago | reply
Que nitidez!!
vj_episteme 32 months ago | reply
mindblowing
Tizianohc 31 months ago | reply
beautiful shot... and to think that horse flies use to be one of the things i hated most! my views have changed, how can someone hate something so beautiful....
معضاد 31 months ago | reply
fantastic
DHANU 5891 31 months ago | reply
Superb shot !!
Shaun Stapleton 29 months ago | reply
Awesome shots!!
Thomas How can you stack 10-100-200 picture's of an insect if it's not dead. Surly you can only stack multiple images if the camera is on a tripod and the subjects not going to move at all?
Thomas Shahan 29 months ago | reply
@ youngmers - Ha, this actually only two shots stacked. And contrary to popular belief, bugs often do stay relatively still once they have landed or found a perch - the two shots used for this one were taken only a second or two apart and from the exact same angle. I don't think I've ever stacked more than 6 or 7 shots before.
Kombizz 26 months ago | reply
beautiful
Kaptah 26 months ago | reply
Amazing! Stunning!
sylvain Richer de Forges 26 months ago | reply
Hi,
We would be interested to have your picture posted on the following site:
www.biodiversity.sg
The recently launched Biodiversity Portal of Singapore is a unique platform to learn, discover and act on biodiversity and conservation both in Singapore and internationally. Amongst other features, this platform also contains a unique photography element which aims to showcase most outstanding wildlife pictures from around the world and to inspire conservation through the art of photography.
You may submit your pictures at the following link:
www.biodiversity.sg/photography/submit-your-photos/submit...
Rules and Regulations:
www.biodiversity.sg/photography/submit-your-photos/rules-...
CRPAR 23 months ago | reply
Muy buenas tomas, excelente!
Dermot Mullane [deleted] 22 months ago | reply
so cool, you really do amazing work
Mach_One. 22 months ago | reply
OMG - what an amazing fly series - superb. I'm speechless.
jeswin20 21 months ago | reply
Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group
PhotographicBlog.com 19 months ago | reply
Great Shot :)
We included it in our post :
25 Incredible Close-up Macro Photos of Insects
Mickaël.G 19 months ago | reply
Une netteté a couper le souffle ! beau travail
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Found in a search. (?)
aperture24flickr 11 months ago | reply
Fantastic details! :-)
sylvain Richer de Forges 2 months ago | reply
Hi,
We would be interested to have your picture posted on the following site:
www.biodiversity.sg
The recently launched Biodiversity Portal of Singapore (BPS) is a unique platform to learn, discover and act on biodiversity and conservation both in Singapore and internationally. Amongst other features, this platform also contains a unique photography element which aims to showcase most outstanding wildlife pictures from around the world and to inspire conservation through the art of photography.
You may submit your pictures at the following link:
www.biodiversity.sg/photography/submit-your-photos/submit...
Rules and Regulations:
www.biodiversity.sg/photography/submit-your-photos/rules-...
Please help to raise awareness of the programme; like BPS on facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Biodiversity-Portal-of-Singapore/1...
StartTheDay 2 weeks ago | reply
Your macro insects are just amazing!