Wow, gorgeous image. Beautiful light, colour and detail.
Agreed. Gorgeous shot.
Good control of the highlights.
It's the superb lighting that stands out in this image, well done.
Thanks all for your comments. I bought the Tokina as a portrait lens but occasionally it's pressed into use when I'm too lazy to go further than the garden.
Not sure why these Episyrphus balteatus hoverflies have been absent this Spring, John. I usually find a few during March if the weather is warm.
In the garden today, I just managed a fleeting glimpse of my first one this year.
Hello John: This is truly an incredible shot. The sheen on the wings is quite stunning. I see you are using a 100 mm macro lens. Did you do any focus stacking? If not, how did you manage to achieve the relatively deep depth of field? I am just learning to use a new macro lens myself and am finding that the depth of field issue is quite challenging.
No, I haven't focus stacked here Susan. It's a technique I have successfully tried on static subjects but I wouldn't be quick enough with a live subject. The DOF isn't that great. The RH wing is beginning to go OOF. It was taken at 1/320th sec @ f10 and so what there is there is down to a relatively small aperture and good light. The sheen on the wings is down to strong sunlight. I have in fact had to do a fair amount of highlight recovery.