Monday, July 13, 2009

What bugs me


I have a confession to make. I am obsessed with taking pictures. I know! Big shocker!

I love not only taking the picture, but playing with them after. I will literally take a picture of anyone or anything at any time as long as I have my camera handy. If I find a subject that is willing to have their picture taken, I just don't stop. Anyone who is friends with me on Facebook can attest that I've uploaded at least 100 pictures within the last week of just family and friends. I didn't even upload the pictures I took of my little nieces at the beach. Their mom is not cool with that, so I respect her wishes.

This is the time of year I go wild for taking pictures of flowers and bugs, also. Tonight was my first opportunity to start playing with some of those pictures, so prepare for an avalanche of them in the next week. Mother Nature is such a generous spirit.

These pictures are just a fluke that I happened to be there, and I'm so excited by them. I was at my cousin's house last Friday, and apparently there is a wasps' nest under one of their kitchen windows. I didn't even know that wasps kill and transport other bugs back to their nests for food. I usually don't like the kind of bugs that can sting me, I have a little bit of an allergic reaction to them. However, this guy was already busy with his own problems and obviously had no intention of bothering me.

I took pictures of the wasp and his grasshopper meal for a good 10 minutes before he got them both into the particular panel of siding he was trying for. I was absolutely fascinated with how many times the wasp hit that opening, trying to go in. Then he would stop and take a break, and try again. The grasshopper had to weigh twice as much as the wasp did, and that wasp kept trying every different angle he could for a long time until he got in. In insect time, it must have been like 7 dog years. Goddamn, he kept taking breaks, readjusting his load, and trying again, I was actually rooting for the stupid wasp after a while.

Perseverance won the day, and we didn't see the wasp again for the rest of the evening. However, don't think I won't post a picture of a spider catching this particular wasp in her web if I have the chance. It's all about Mother Nature, and my photo opportunities!














14 comments:

Sheri said...

Those are awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing as I had no idea wasps could carry something that big! I didn't even know they ate bugs.Now I want to go study up on them.

Judi said...

These pictures are fantastci! Thanks for sharing them! I am really impressed with your patience!

Tom said...

Cool pictures. Keep it up. I wouldn't be surprised to see your work in National Geographic some day.

Raine said...

Those are great pics! Animals are amazing. Good for that little guy to keep trying!

Judi said...

Sorry for the off-topic comment but RAINE - I cannot post a comment to your new-look-of-a-blog. And you don't list an email for me to be able to tell you, either. So, I'm using Fancy Schmancy (sorry!)

Mr. Condescending said...

You need to get a digital SLR camera and a macro lens, then we can see the buggers faces! Isn't it so much fun though takin pics? That made me smile fancy, I love it too!

Paige said...

Great shots. I think I will leave bug photography to you--

mo.stoneskin said...

LOL @ Mr C, would love to see the faces, especially the grasshopper's!!!

But I don't understand, I only know about black and white wasps. Is that some continental wasp or did you spray paint it black?

Anonymous said...

Excellent! This is why you should join in the Project 365 thing I'm currently trying to do. It's kind of fun although I'm pretty sure some days the last thing I'm going to feel like doing is getting a picture. Join in!! Take a picture a day for a year. Can you tell I'm trying to get people involved? No one is though. Pah.

Jodi said...

Project 365 sounds fascinating and I'm going to sign up. I love taking photos too! I don't think I'd post photos everyday on my blog but maybe I'll do a once a week post with my 7 pictures from the week. Awesome weekly blog topic! Thanks for the info Assassin!

Life, Love And Lola said...

Great photos! You've got talent!

Candy's daily Dandy said...

those are Awesome!!! You are a great photog. Like bug paparazzi!!

you gotta meet my friend Bill Stankus (if you don't already know him)over at

http://billstankus.blogspot.com/

Funny cuz he wrote a photography post today about something you may already have or may need. Check him out-the dude is brilliant

Cora said...

BLAH! I hate bugs! But these are awesome pictures.

What camera do you use, Fancy? Do you have a macro lens on it? These pics are incredible!

JoJo said...

Sorry bud, I had to fast forward thru the pics....I hate bugs. lol