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Giant Black Fly
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Giant Black Fly

by Luke Ormand

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 17, 201153 views3 comments
Not sure on the species or anything but this fly was massive. There were two actually, next to each other on some spartina alterniflora (saltmarsh grass). They were perhaps slightly bigger than bumble bees... quite interesting! I wish that a) I'd had my macro lens with me and that b) it hadn't been windy which made it tough to photograph them, especially with such a big setup

Nikon D300s 300mm f4 + 1.7X TC HH
f/6.7
1/500s
ISO 1000

Cropped to 67%, levels adjustment, sharpened in CS5 on 27" iMac. Please view larger

- Luke

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on July 17, 2011 at 11:51 PM
I'm near positive this is a Black Horse Fly, Tabanus atratus. I've had them lay eggs in a wedge shape cluster on long leaves such as you have here and they are usually overhanging water so that as they hatch the young drop into the water to develop. If you happen to see one again on a leaf overhanging water and you have the time to watch it you may get to capture a series of egg laying. The process I watched and photographed lasted 15 to 20 minutes.

Charlie
Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on July 18, 2011 at 4:27 AM
Luke:
Interesting critter. Good to have included the environmental scene which allowed Charles to ID this fly. The lighting condition looks pretty harsh and you have done well to capture this.
Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 18, 2011 at 7:42 AM
Can't remember ever shooting something this small with my long lens, surprising results.
Tough light but well managed.
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments