Bradbury Rings & Whitemill Visit
Took a visit to Bradbury Rings High Wood and the river via White Mill on the 12th May. The sun was out for the day encouraging some insects to come out and show. One in this first shot probably wished they hadn’t as it ended up as spider food.
Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO100)Spider & Meal. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm. ISO 100 F11 1/250. Flash from Canon MP-24ex Twin Flash.
Next on the walk up I saw a proper bug – a Rhopalid bug – in a blown dandelion seed head. I liked the colour contrast and scale that it showed. Hope you like it too.
Rhopalid Bug (Corizus hyoscyami) on Dandelion Seedhead. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm. ISO 100 F11 1/250. Flash from Canon MP-24ex Twin Flash.
I then had a look on an old stump for some small bugs (springtails etc), and ended up finding and taking this Aphid.
Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO100)Aphid on Stick (3x Magnification). Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm. ISO 100 F11 1/250. Flash from Canon MP-24ex Twin Flash.
After this I went down to White Mill, which is very close by to this site. The riverside was alive with Mayflies, I took a macro shot of one, but also grabbed this scene shot to show just how many there were in flight.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/3.5, 1/8000 sec, ISO400)
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec, ISO400)Mayfly by the Stour. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 1/250 F5.6. Natural Light on Tripod. Processing in Topaz Adjust.
As well as seeing the mayflies all over the place there were some Large Red Damselfies about, this next shot being the best that I got from the trip.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/5, 1/1000 sec, ISO400)Large Red Damselfly. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 1/1000 F5. Natural Light.
Joining them in the hunt were some Banded Demoiselles. This one I got posing nicely on a leaf.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec, ISO400)Banded Demoiselle. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 1/100 F4.5. Natural Light.
The final insect that I took before returning home was this nettle weevil. I’ve used Topaz Adjust to boost the detail a bit here. I’m inclinded to call this effect HD Macro!
Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO100)Green Nettle Weevil.Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm. ISO 100 F11 1/250. Flash from Canon MP-24ex Twin Flash. Processing in Topaz Adjust 5.
