Sandhills Hornet. In case anyone is wondering about the background, the hornet was sitting on an overturned kayak.


He waited long enough so that I could take his portrait.


Than along came this tiny beetle (about 4 mm in length)


And this this little unidentified fly




Comments are always welcome and appreciated.

[bluestringer]

Excellent captures. The background worked great. What was used for lighting?

[MSL]

I'm amazed at how close you must be getting. Beautifully sharp images

[eaglem]

Very detailed with good lighting...........these captures are excellent.

[Heinrich Lohmann]

Excellent captures. The background worked great. What was used for lighting?

Thank you kindly, here is an image:

I'm amazed at how close you must be getting. Beautifully sharp images

Thank you for the kind words

Very detailed with good lighting...........these captures are excellent.

Thank you EM, it's appreciated.

[paulh]

Impressive work!

[SunValley]

I'm flabergasted!

[MSL]

Heinrich, since we are trying to coax out all your secrets... how much have you cropped to get these images?

[Schraubstock]

Thank you kindly, here is an image:

Hi
Heinrich, it must be in the genes. A bit of German engineering is at play here.

Is the Sandhill Hornet a native or are they, like the European Wasp, considered a pest as indeed they are in Australia.
You show considerable courage to go that close to those critters but it appears the urge to satisfy your macro hunger got the better of you. Nice.

Cheers

[photolady95]

Impressive images Heinrich. Very nice done. TFS

On another note, your flash extender/diffuser looks just like mine.

[Heinrich Lohmann]

Impressive work!

Thank you for the kind words

I'm flabergasted!

Thank you kindly.

Heinrich, since we are trying to coax out all your secrets... how much have you cropped to get these images?

All are cropped but not a lot, here goes:
# 1 is at 31%
# 2 34%
# 3 52%
# 4 46%

Hi
Heinrich, it must be in the genes. A bit of German engineering is at play here.

Can't take credit for that, member "Rense" posted the instructions a number of years ago.

Is the Sandhill Hornet a native or are they, like the European Wasp, considered a pest as indeed they are in Australia.
You show considerable courage to go that close to those critters but it appears the urge to satisfy your macro hunger got the better of you. Nice.

Cheers

I don't know whether they are native or not but as a rule they don't play nice and we eliminate them if they take up residence in the garden. This one I found on a cool and damp morning and it was just sitting there.

Impressive images Heinrich. Very nice done. TFS

Thank you and you are welcome

On another note, your flash extender/diffuser looks just like mine.

I don't think we are the only ones using it, Rense had a very good idea.

[photolady95]

I don't think we are the only ones using it, Rense had a very good idea.

Yes, he did.

[charliezap]

Awesome shots there Heinrich--charliezap

[MSL]

All are cropped but not a lot, here goes: # 1 is at 31% # 2 34% # 3 52% # 4 46%

Thanks Heinrich. It is clear those extra 8 megapixels on the K3 are making a huge difference, at least compared to what I'd need to crop to on my K5. You clearly also have a skill in getting close without chasing them off.

[lesmore49]

Excellent, macro photos, no other way to describe it. Great clarity, would make wonderful photos for a biology textbook or insect guide.