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Wasp Bubbler
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Wasp Bubbler

by Mark Plonsky

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted October 19, 20041,607 views8 comments
I am told they do this for thermo regulation, but I have seen them do this on pretty cool days.

Canon 300D with tamron 2xTC, maybe 20mm extension, canon 100mm macro, & canon 500D closeup. Lighting was a 420ex covered with a diffuser and mounted on a butterfly bracket. 1/60, F32, iso400, FEC +2/3, Handheld. Cropped about 50%. This is a composite of 2 successive frames in an effort to increase DOF.

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by David Gottlieb on October 19, 2004 at 9:14 PM
Wasps are not easy to get next to.This is close and really detailed
Registered on November 1, 2003, 436 Posts, 1790 Comments
Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on October 19, 2004 at 9:26 PM
Mark,

Nice lighting on this one. The 2-shot composite really produced allot of DOF. This guy sure has some cool looking antenae with the hook on the end. I don't know how you are always able to catch these guys with the drop at the mouth parts. Super image. :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments
Comment posted by Jay Barnes on October 20, 2004 at 1:46 AM
Nice close-up of this behavior, Mark!

Looks like a male Paper Wasp? I have some photos of one doing the same thing but have never found out why they do it. A small and relatively docile group of them were hiding between very large leaves, too cold to fly, and drooling all over themselves. :rolleyes:

Registered on November 1, 2003, 231 Posts, 1153 Comments
Comment posted by Randy Harrison on October 20, 2004 at 6:20 AM
Nice one Mark with excellent detail.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 468 Posts, 3099 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Bates on October 20, 2004 at 7:34 PM
Mark. excellent job on the composite - and as Ronnie mentions..it worked perfectly! Superb DETAIL!!!

Michael
Registered on November 1, 2003, 149 Posts, 2381 Comments
Comment posted by David Chauvin on October 20, 2004 at 8:11 PM
Mark,

This is fantastic depth and detail...love the hook on the antenna and the drop is icing on the cake. :toast:

Regards,

David
Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments
Comment posted by Tam Stuart on October 20, 2004 at 10:40 PM
The merge is indiscernible - good job!

I saw an ant-mimicing fly with a less clear drop a couple of weeks ago, on a cool day. Odd. You captured a very nice reflection in the drop as a bonus.

This is an excellent behavior shot - so sharp around the face, and legs. You have a steady hand!

Registered on November 17, 2003, 113 Posts, 1600 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Cloran on October 22, 2004 at 4:12 PM
Mark,

Great shot :smile:
Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments