Our Daily Challenge: Beneficial Moments

This shot did exactly what I was trying to do, which isn't always easy with insects in motion. :-) But I tried to set them in silhouette against the clear blue gap, framing them with the green bokeh, and I got the shot and a clear silhouette as well. I revisited and did a very small crop but otherwise SOOC.

I've loved silhouette shots ever since I first saw saguaros-against-the-sunset photos. But the shape and background and lighting all have to be right.

Tags:   wheelbug mating bugs mating insects assassin bug true bug insect wheelbugs mating wheelbugs silhouette insect silhouette Arilus cristatus bugs

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84/100

Flickr Lounge: Dutch angle

These are each about 1/3 inch long. They can jump about 40 times their body length, so one tries to photograph them without alarming them. Sometimes they, or other specimens, look more red than orange. (This may be a similar species and not the same one.) This is the first time I've seen the dark blue inner wings. I believe the one at right is the male.

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mating tiger bee flies on a deck chair

This was taken with my first digital camera, and it was the wrong one for insects, or at least the wrong one for macro shots. But I liked the patterns on this chair, and I liked the pattern the mating insects made, and I saw a good chance to combine both patterns in one shot. I'd love to get another go at mating bee flies, but I don't see them where I live now.

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92/100

It's a rare treat even to see one of these interesting insects, but a pair was really special. I love how the clear wing of one overlaps the body of the other. Keeled treehoppers, Entylia carinata.

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"Hang on, there's a bump just ahead here!"

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