Tag Archives: techniques

Hand-held caddisflies

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

I recently found a folder in my files with a number of photos taken way back in April during a visit to Sam A. Baker State Park in the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Missouri. I never got around to posting them … Continue reading →

Posted in Philopotamidae, Trichoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Beetle Collecting 101: How to pin a beetle

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

It has been a long time since I initiated my Beetle Collecting 101 series (more than two years!), and to date the first issue—Beetle Collecting 101: Dress for Success—remains the one and only lesson that I’ve posted. I really had intended … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

How to deal with a crappy photo of a beautiful beetle

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

One thing I’ve discovered after trying my hand at insect macrophotography for the past three years is that I take a lot more photos than I can possibly post. As a result, I tend to focus my efforts on more … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Post processing—then and now

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

I recently happened upon one of my first attempts at post processing a photograph of a pinned insect specimen. The subject was Anomalipus elephas (large armoured darkling beetle), a tank of an insect (this example measuring 32 mm in length) belonging to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Consolation Crossidius

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Rewind back to Day 2 of this year’s Annual Fall Tiger Beetle Trip at Gloss Mountain State Park in northwestern Oklahoma—these were actually the first non-Missouri beetles that I photographed on the trip. Crossidius pulchellus is a longhorned beetle (family Cerambycidae) that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Photographing the Limestone Tiger Beetle

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Seeing and photographing the beautifully black Prairie Tiger Beetles (Cicindelidia obsoleta vulturina) in southwestern Oklahoma was a lot of fun, but by Day 5 I was ready to look for one of my top goals for the trip—Cicindelidia politula (Limestone Tiger Beetle). Occurring primarily in Texas (but … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

9th Annual Fall Tiger Beetle Trip: Day 3.1

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

I’d had a very enjoyable 2nd day on this year’s fall tiger beetle trip, but I couldn’t say it had been particularly successful. My primary reason for coming to the Glass Mountains in northwestern Oklahoma was to confirm a hunch … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

A classic fall ‘bycid

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

In eastern North America, autumn is the beginning of the end for most insect groups. Preparations for winter are either complete or well underway—eggs have been laid, nests have been provisioned, and larvae (hopefully) have eaten well enough to endure … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments