Today I received word from Richard Levine at the Entomological Society of America that one of my photos had been selected for the 2013 version of their famed World of Insects Calendar!
Excuse me for a moment please… (pumps fist, stirs the pot, does a very bad moon walk…)
Okay, I’m back. Honestly, this is an honor that I did not expect—at least not yet. Historically dominated by such giants in the world of insect macrophotography as Piotr Naskrecki, Thomas Myers, and others, competition for ESA’s World of Insects Calendar is fierce. Last year more than 500 photographs were submitted for 13 slots (12 months and an introductory page) by 98 photographers from around the world. I was one of those photographers, though not selected (no surprise as I was a first-time submitter). However, I took great pleasure in seeing fellow bug blogger Adrian Thysse nab two of the 2012 slots, and I increased my resolve to try again for next year with a selection of eight mostly newer photographs.
At the suggestion of Dave Stone, I present each of those photos below along with a short description of why I submitted it. However, I’m not going to tell you which photo ultimately was selected—I thought it might be fun to see which photo you think was selected and why. As added incentive for guessing, I’m going to award 10 BitB Challenge points to each person who correctly picks the selected photograph. BitB Challenge Session #6 is coming down to the wire, so this could have a big impact on the overall standings.
The 2013 Calendar will become available for sale later this year (probably October) at the ESA website—last year’s version cost only $12 (discounted to $8 for ESA members, and free for those attending the annual meeting [which I will be attending this year]).
Megaphasma denticrus (Phasmida: Diapheromeridae) – giant walkingstick
From North America’s longest insect (21 Aug 2009). This is one of my earlier super-closeup attempts. I liked the combination of blue and brown colors on the black background.
Buprestis rufipes (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) – redbellied Buprestis
From Special Delivery (13 July 2010). The use of a white box shows off the brilliant (and difficult-to-photograph) metallic colors well, and I like the animated look of the slightly cocked head.
Edessa meditabunda (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) – alquiche chico
From Stink Bugs on Soybean in Argentina (18 May 2011). I found these Edessa meditabunda stink bug eggs on the underside of a soybean leaf in Argentina almost ready to hatch. The developing eye spots in each egg gives the photo a “cute” factor rarely seen in such super close-ups.
Cicindela formosa generosa (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) – eastern big sand tiger beetle
From Big, Bold, and Beautiful (10 May 2011). I like this slightly panned out view because of the sense of scale and landscape created by the inclusion of the plantlets and the view over the small rise.
Trimerotropis saxatilis (Orthoptera: Acrididae) – lichen grasshopper
From Oedipodine Rex (15 July 2011). Some of my favorite insect photos are not only those that show the bug in all its glory, but also tell a story about its natural history. This nymph is almost invisible when sitting on the lichens that cover the sandstone exposures in its preferred glade habitat.
Tetracha floridana (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) – Florida metallic tiger beetle
From Why I Roamed the Marsh at Night (23 August 2011). I used extension tubes to improve the quality of flash lighting (decreased lens to subject distance results in greater apparent light size), and I like the symmetry of the composition.
Spissistilus festinus (Hemiptera: Membracidae) – threecornered alfalfa hopper
From Crazy Eyes (17 September 2011). Even though both the insect and the background are green, there is sufficient value contrast to create a pleasing composition, punctuated by the bizarre zig-zag pattern of the eyes.
Crossidius coralinus fulgidus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) – a rabbitbrush longhorned beetle
From Crossidius coralinus fulgidus (4 October 2011). The blue sky background provides a pleasing contrast with the colors of this particular beetle and flowers.
Copyright © Ted C. MacRae 2012
Beetles In The Bush 
Wow, tough choice! All eight of these are awesome, but the one I keep coming back to is Crossidius coralinus fulgidus. Something about the colors and composition captures my attention every time I see it. But really, I don’t see how the ESA could have gone wrong with any of these!
I think the Stink Bug eggs is the one
Congratulations! Basically, including insects in any photo helps it be more interesting. Everyone was a winner!
I like all of these photos and I can see reasons to choose just about any of them for a calendar. If forced to choose just one, I’m going to pick the Tetracha floridana.
Great images!
🙂
Love DIna
I wish I had a problem like this ;-). Superb photos, every single one is worth publishing…
Congratulations Ted, I can’t wait to see your photo in it’s place of honour on my wall! 🙂
As for which photo, I agree that any one of them should have been selected, but I’m going to go with Trimerotropis saxatilis based on the style of previous calendar selections.
While any of them would make a great calendar page, there’s just something about the Crossidius coralinus fulgidus that looks slightly more like a traditional calendar page (combination of a main image and an interesting background) so I’ll go with that one.
Of course, you could also pick out four more, and make your *own* calendar on Lulu.
I’ll go with Tetracha floridana, just because it really grabs me when I look at it. My second guess would be Crossidius coralinus fulgidus.
The Buprestis rufipes photo is my guess. Great photos, I gotta get me some extension tubes – That Tiger beetle shot is amazing.
Congrats, Ted. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the head on shots and that Tetracha shot is particularly good.
Congratulations! You definitely deserve it with all of your sweat and tears that you have put into taking these and many other fabulous photographs! I can’t wait to see it in the calendar!
I also vote for the Crossidius coralinus fulgidus…it has that ESA calendar look!
Hi Ted! Congrats!! All super photos – I especially like the lichen grasshopper nymph, Trimerotropis saxatilis. Do you finally consider yourself both an entomologist AND and a photographer or still an entomologist with a camera? 😉
All very nice, but I like the jewel beetle the best. All I see around here are interesting, but ultimately boring through repetition, Agrillus and Dicerca.
Congratulations! I’m just about done reading Piotr Nazkerki’s Relic. He truly leaves giant foot prints, but these images are wonderful. I personally think Trimerotropis saxtilis is the winner; there is something particularly pleasing about the composition.
Oh no- I was glancing around for the book as I flitted through his last name and forgot to correct- my apologies to Dr. Naskrecki and Relics. 🙂
Congrats Ted! This is so difficult to choose just from these few. I can’t image having to pick through all entered photos to choose which go on the calendar. I love the longhorn and the buprestid for obvious beetle reasons 😉 …..but my vote goes to the lichen grasshopper, Trimerotropis saxatilis, I think it’s a great shot and also tells a story about the natural history of the little creature.
Congratulations! For me, the phasmid is the most striking, dramatic, and interesting to look at. Its double-take form and the uncluttered dark background make it look like a calendar shot to me.
That said, the colour scheme of T. saxatilis looks good for a winter month.
Congratulations! An honor well-deserved. My guess is the eggs 🙂