Some Insect Macros

[CaraRose]

Sneaking some post processing of recent shots through between my Yellowstone shots. Took these at the Chicago Botanic Gardens a few weeks ago.

1. My best guess on the ID for this guy is a Giant Resin Bee. It looked a bit like an elongated carpenter bee, but note the pollen basket is under the belly.


2 Water Strider


3 Monarch


4 Carpenter Bee on Salvia


5 Bumblebee on Salvia


6 Spider... Orb Weaver, I assume from the web


7 Ailanthus Webworm Moth on Rattlesnake Master


8


9 Mourning Cloak on Butterfly Bush


10

[mn shutterbug]

Cool shots and razor sharp. Good insect shots are a real photographic challenge.

[maplestreet]

Great shots Cara, like them all, LOVE #7.

Those with the 100L right? I love the Bokeh on that lens so much.

[erikzen]

These shots are amazing. The color on 5 is spectacular. Really psychedelic! Not to mention the clarity and the detail. Look at the stinger on that guy! Not that size matters. Well, maybe it does...for a bee.

But I do agree #7 is very striking. Maybe because of the angle, with the bug upside down.

My favorite though, may be #10. The detail in that compound eye is downright scary. Excellent capture.

[CaraRose]

Great shots Cara, like them all, LOVE #7.

Those with the 100L right? I love the Bokeh on that lens so much.

These were all either the 300mm f4L or the 100mm 2.8L. The 300 has killer bokeh wide open as well. #7 was definately the 100. Most of the carpenter bees were with the 300. I'd need to check for the others.

Mike, Erik, thanks for your comments as well

[Dylan8i]

WOW cara these are great, love the water strider one, and number 8. i keep thinking the moth in 7 and 8 is actually a beetle.

[paulnj]

Very nice series .