Tag Archives: photography

A non-black background is better… often!

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

In my previous post, A black background is better… sometimes, I came to the defense of the oft-maligned pitch black background. Some macrophotographers studiously avoid black backgrounds (BBs), claiming that they look ‘unnatural’. However, as I discussed in my previous post, there are situations—primarily … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachnida, Araneae | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A black background is better… sometimes

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

If there is one subject that causes more disagreement among macrophotographers, it is the pitch black background. Granted, black backgrounds are common—almost ubiquitous in macrophotography, since they are easily created by using full flash illumination and ensuring that nothing lies behind … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachnida, Araneae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

And the winner is…

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Okay, time to fess up on which of my photos was selected for the 2013 ESA World of Insects Calendar, but before I do let me say that getting readers’ comments on which one they thought was selected proved to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

2013 ESA World of Insects Calendar Selection

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrididae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Membracidae, Orthoptera, Pentatomidae, Phasmida | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Cicada killer on the fly

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

I don’t normally spend much time trying to photograph insects in flight. To really do it right requires some rather specialized equipment, including very high-speed flash, and a bucketload of patience and skill. John Abbott exemplifies those whose great talent has produced … Continue reading →

Posted in Crabronidae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The importance of background and apparent light size

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

I’m still getting submissions for ID Challenge #19 and don’t quite have the followup post ready yet, so I’ll give it a couple more days. In the meantime, I’d like to re-share the photo below, originally shown a few weeks ago … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Maddening mutillid

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

During my stay in Corrientes, Argentina, I had two distinct biomes to explore—the relatively moist “Selva Paraguayense” to the east in Corrientes Province (a southern adjunct to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, and home to the cryptic longhorned beetle … Continue reading →

Posted in Hymenoptera, Mutillidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Out with the old (but on a good note)

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Chris Brown

This past March was the warmest on record here in Missouri and that made for some nice opportunities to get out and photograph. That said, my enthusiasm for macro photography has been somewhat tempered since my camera body is getting old and showing … Continue reading →

Posted in Gelastocoridae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments