…while taking a keen interest in something or other.
Female Pompilid wasps are spider hunters. After a suitable species of spider is found, it is stung, and it soon becomes largely immobile. If it has not already done so, the wasp will make a burrow in the sand and then drag the stunned spider to the nest and lay an egg on it. When... Continue Reading →
Looking back to warmer times... The Bronzed or Shore Tiger Beetle (Cicindela repanda) is a common tiger beetle in Alberta, but this was the first time I was able to photograph a mating pair, up on a sandy terrace above the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton. I tried to obtain shots of individual specimens, but... Continue Reading →
As a method of encouraging myself to blog more regularly, I bring to you Macro Monday. I'll use this space to share images of interesting critters that, over the years, have been foolish enough to subject themselves to the Great Eye. The first subject for Macro Monday is a Pine Tussock Moth Caterpillar. Dasychira grisefacta,... Continue Reading →
While our daughter volunteered at Fort Edmonton on a weekend in May, 2010, my wife and I roamed the river valley around the fort. As usual I carried my camera equipment with me, setup for macro photography with diffused flash. While we paused to rest at a bench, I noticed a slender wasp 'feeling' its... Continue Reading →
The Olympus OM-2 was the first in a set of tools that allowed me to begin taking true macro photographs. Handed down to me by my father in the 1980’s, I had no idea of its full macro potential until almost 15 years later. At first, my needs were simple, so I used the 50mm... Continue Reading →
Tiger beetles can be a real pain in the knees (and elbows) to photograph. They are predators, a hunter on scrublands, beaches and other sandy open spaces. Photographically they are a challenge because they are relatively small (averaging about 15mm), often well camouflaged, fast as blazes and highly attuned to movement.
Lurching Toward Oblivion 