A few more insects... but too hot today ...and my flash has failed!

[Astro]

Very hot today and the insects very active, good for them I suppose, but getting close was harder than usual.
To make it just a bit more challenging my Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX flash unit failed a couple of days ago.
I should not complain it was about 7 years old and has had a lot of use. Hopefully a new unit (Twin Lite MT-26EX) should arrive tomorrow when normal service will be resumed
However, I was reasonably pleased to get a couple of reasonable captures out of today.

#1
Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

#2
Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) V2

#3
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)


C&C welcome

[lesno1]

Love these James the last one especialy BTW are you the James i met once at Barston lake ?

[Astro]

Hi Les, pleased you like them. I must admit that the Dragonfly was the 'bonus' shot. I was at Great Whitley in Worcestershire today and I was quite surprised that the Chaser actually settled. More to the point it settled just a few yards away!!

And I am indeed the same James that met you (some years back now) at Barston Lakes. It is still one of my 'go to' sites and I am there at least once a week during the season. Other sites around the area I can be found lurking are Little Packington, Coleshill, Snitterton Beeches near Brearley, Clowes Wood (Earlswood Lakes) and National Trust sites Charlecote and Upton House. Another favourite is Compton Verney.

[lesno1]

Glad youre still busy James i was at Earlswood yesterday its all closed off for a refurb

[Geoff F]

I also struggled to get close to my subjects today. Either very flighty or deep down in the undergrowth where I couldn't get a good angle. So I failed with too many interesting subjects. Still made a few worthwhile records though.

Pity about that stem in front of the butterfly. But what can you do? So often I have slid my hand forward to remove a stem or leaf only for the subject to then fly away.

[xpatUSA]

I also struggled to get close to my subjects today.

Me too, also today. The sequence:

1. notice a subject basking in the yard.

2. go back inside only to discover that the camera battery is as phlat as a phart.

3. get the other camera.

4. shoot the rapidly disappearing subject.



ho hum ...

[Astro]

Ted, I apologise, but I am sitting here giggling hysterically to myself...'cos it is the essence of photography.... lost opportunity.

I look forward to tomorrow and the next series of lost opportunitie ......

[Astro]

Pity about that stem in front of the butterfly. But what can you do? So often I have slid my hand forward to remove a stem or leaf only for the subject to then fly away.

So true!! In this case it is the first Common Blue I have seen this season... so I opted to get the shot rather than move for a better angle, it was quite active on the flower so it probably was the best call because I didn't see it settle anywhere else once ot flew off.

[oe31]

That's fantastic! Beautiful photos, and it's so nice to see these colours at this time of year! I really loved them all!