Syrphid Fly Family - Diptera Order - Syrphidae

Golden Crownbeard Verbesina enceloides Family - Compositae (Sunflower Family) Common annual

Syrphid Fly (or a 'not-a-bee' as we call them at our place…). Over 950 species of Syrphid flies in North America. They resemble bees and wasps.

This particular Syrphid Fly is feeding upon a Golden Crownbeard (cow-pen daisy, hierba de la bruja) Picture taken at first light.


Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Canon Macro Lens EF 100mm 1:2.8

Minor Cropping
Handheld

Great work, CJ! Love the detail, colors, saturation, and "minor cropping" :p

I especially like the 2nd one - nice uncluttered background and how that little bud off-sets the non-bee.

Nice composition all around :thumbsup:

Great work, CJ! Love the detail, colors, saturation, and "minor cropping" :p

I especially like the 2nd one - nice uncluttered background and how that little bud off-sets the non-bee.

Nice composition all around :thumbsup:


Your work is always so impressive, so a compliment of this level…Wow…I'm quite flattered! (I mean that!!!) Thanks

This board actually deserves a lot of credit for the quality of anything I do. In the short time I've owned the camera/signed up on this forum, I've learned an immense amount. I try to apply it.

The second one is my favorite, too. It prints at over 7x7 300dpi. I might crop the other two a little differently. I was trying to not be so clinical in my approach to nature subjects, but the extra buds might be too much. Maybe leave the buds, but blur them a little? Input is welcome.

Nice images, I like the position of the last one the best.

CJ, Thanks for your kind words.

IMO, your first and third images are hurt by the small portions of flowers (those that the non-fly are NOT on) that are cropped off. As shown, you are at that border line - crop looser or tighter. Tighter so that more than half of the flower is cut or looser so that all of the flower is shown. Right now, it cuts off right where the brain wants to continue finishing the image.

I agree totally about not being clinical. I always treat macro photography like photojournalism. If you noticed, my shots always try to incorporate an interaction of the main subject with or within its environment. Therefore, it's not always important to go so close.