World Photography Forum

Male Common Darter

Leif — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:14:07 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Photographed in a reed bed in the New Forest, a couple of weeks ago. Latin name: Sympetrum striolatum.

2 comments

Red Soldier Beetles

Leif — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:04:23 +0100

by: Leif

Description: These are very common beetles and the behaviour in the picture is typical. I think they also eat. The species is Rhagonycha fulva.

2 comments

Comma Butterfly

Leif — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:46:03 +0100

by: Leif

Description: I found this one resting on vegetation at the edge of a wood. As usual these days it was a bit windy.

Ringlet Butterfly

Leif — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:21:02 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A Ringlet Butterfly photographed at sunrise. Although these are not brightly coloured, they are rather attractive in their own way.

3 comments

Small Skipper Butterfly

Leif — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:18:53 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A Small Skipper Butterfly on an unopened Scabious flower. It was a bit windy, but I was lucky enough to get one sharp image.

2 comments

Earwig

Leif — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 10:18:39 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This is a female Earwig, Forficula auricularia, resting on an Ivy leaf on a rather wet and windy day.

4 comments

The Hungry Sawfly Larva

Leif — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:29:35 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This little beast was unperturbed by my presence and just carried on eating. Thanks to Gary Francis on Bird Forum for identifying this as a Sawfly larva.

2 comments

Inocybe erubescens

Leif — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:14:53 +0100

by: Leif

Description: I found these growing in a local nature reserve while out looking for Orchids. They are deadly poisonous so should not be eaten. The association with Beech and chalky soil, large fibrillose cap, red stains, and strong unpleasant smell nail down the species. Most Inocybe species are very tricky to identify and most amateur mycologists will say "Ah, an Inocybe" before tossing it over the shoulder and moving on to other genera.

1 comment

Marbled White Butterfly

Leif — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:56:32 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This is a Marbled White Butterfly bedding down for the night on a grass stem. While I was taking this picture, I was serenaded by 3 Red Legged Partridges, and rabbits were bounding round the field.

7 comments

Bee Orchid

Leif — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:51:23 +0100

by: Leif

Description: The business end of a Bee Orchid, photographed in a local nature reserve.

6 comments

Common Darter Dragonfly

Leif — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:21:20 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This is a Common Darter Dragonfly in the later stages of the transformation from a nymph to a dragonfly, a so-called incomplete metamorphosis. The shed skin, or exuvia, is at the top. It is waiting for the skin and wings to harden before it takes flight. I was crouching in 8" of water to take this picture. Afterwards a herd of cattle waded into the pond, drinking the foul water, munching some reeds and flattening others. I doubt this insect survived.

4 comments

Female Common Darter

Leif — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:13:00 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This is a teneral, or recently emerged, female Common Darter dragonfly, as evidenced by the perfect unmarked wings. Unfortunately she is off centre.

6 comments

Club Tailed Dragonfly Nymph

Leif — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:34:26 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Although not a particularly pleasing photo, I thought some people might be interested to see the Club Tailed Dragonfly Nymph before the Dragonfly emerged. It is covered in wet mud from the Thames. It crawled around on the grass and mud, before heading back to the steep river bank, where it emerged.

4 comments

Dragonfly emerging

Leif — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:13:53 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This is another Club Tailed Dragonfly emerging. This one has pushed its upper body free, and is resting to let the outer skin harden a bit. It will soon climb free of the skin, or exuvia, and unfurl its wings. I had to wait several hours to see the first nymph emerge from the water, and then within a short time space I counted a total of 5 specimens emerging.

12 comments

Teneral damselfly

Leif — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:19:29 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This is a teneral, or newly emerged, damselfly. If you look at the wing tips, you will see that they are not quite fully extended. After the insect has emerged from the nymph stage, it pumps bodily fluids into its wings in order to inflate them. It then waits while they harden, and it can take its first flight. This one was a real pain to photograph. Each time I adjusted the focus, it would nip behind the grass blade. I ended up using a long piece of grass in my left hand to coax it into position while focussing with my right hand.

5 comments

Orchid Hybrid

Leif — Thu, 31 May 2007 22:38:52 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This Orchid was growing in a BBOWT nature reserve in Oxfordshire. It was behind a tape barrier designed to prevent the hordes of photographers from damaging the habitat. I believe it is a hybrid between the very rare Lady Orchid and the more common Monkey Orchid.

1 comment

Nursery Web Spider

Leif — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:00:49 +0100

by: Leif

Description: These are quite common on vegetation, and unlike many spiders, are not easily spooked. Notice the front legs clasped together in pairs, which is typical of the species. I found this one resting on a Convolvulus leaf.

2 comments

Female Banded Demoiselle Damselfly

Leif — Tue, 29 May 2007 22:10:30 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Another one from the banks of the Thames. Back lighting helps highlight the body hair.

4 comments

Male Banded Demoiselle Damselfly

Leif — Tue, 29 May 2007 22:08:36 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A recent image taken on the banks of the Thames.

7 comments

Club Tailed Dragonfly

Leif — Tue, 22 May 2007 20:30:36 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This is a Club Tailed Dragonfly perched on the side of a steep bank of the river Thames. It has recently emerged from the water as a nymph, and shed its outer skin to transform into the adult stage. The discarded is next to the insect. The insect will take flight once the new outer skin has hardened. I took the photo while hanging over the side of the river bank, using the weight of my lower body to press the legs of the tripod against the ground, allowing the centre column to hang vertically over the edge. I'm sure tourists on passing pleasure boats were placing bets as to when I would fall in.

5 comments

Club Tailed Dragonfly

Leif — Wed, 16 May 2007 20:29:09 +0100

by: Leif

Description: I found this recently emerged Club Tailed Dragonfly in vegetation a few metres from the edge of the Thames. I managed to get a few shots despite heavy rain.

7 comments

Alder Fly

Leif — Mon, 14 May 2007 20:31:34 +0100

by: Leif

Description: An Alder Fly resting on vegetation on the banks of the Thames, near Sonning Lock. The insect is about 1 cm long, ignoring the antennae.

5 comments

Male Scorpion Fly

Leif — Tue, 08 May 2007 22:31:03 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A male Scorpion Fly, Panorpa communis, showing its Scorpion like tail. There was rather a gust blowing, but I managed to get a couple of decent frames during a short lull in the wind. I had seen these before, as they are not rare, but I never realised quite how extraordinary they are.

6 comments

Froghopper

Leif — Tue, 08 May 2007 22:26:28 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A Froghopper, Cercopis vulnerata, on grass. There was a bit of a wind blowing but fortunately one photo from a series came out sharp.

Forest Bug

Leif — Mon, 07 May 2007 22:57:15 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Pentatoma rufipes, a common shield bug.

2 comments

Disused Church

Leif — Mon, 07 May 2007 22:54:22 +0100

by: Leif

Description: The remains of a church near Milton Keynes.

1 comment

Rabbit Skull

Leif — Fri, 04 May 2007 21:50:23 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Another experiment with a macro lens.

3 comments

Watch

Leif — Fri, 04 May 2007 21:40:28 +0100

by: Leif

Description: One of today's experiments using a macro lens.

7 comments

Hygrophorus eburneus

Leif — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:45:55 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Some mushrooms from last Autumn.

1 comment

Bluebell Wood

Leif — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:16:13 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Another one from the weekend.

3 comments

Bluebell Wood

Leif — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 21:30:28 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Taken early this morning. Technical details: ISO: 100. Exposure: 1/6 seconds. Aperture: F11. Lens: 28-105mm AFD @ 35mm. Other equipment: tripod, cable release.

4 comments

Pasque Flower

Leif — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:54:09 +0100

by: Leif

Description: The same subject as before, but this time using a wider aperture, to throw the background into soft focus. Technical details: ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/180 seconds. Aperture: F8. Lens: 200mm Other equipment: tripod, cable release.

2 comments

Pasque Flower

Leif — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 18:58:22 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Growing on a steep chalk hill side near Luton. Technical details: ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/45 seconds. Aperture: F16. Lens: 200mm Other equipment: tripod, cable release.

2 comments

Common Blue Butterflies on Knapweed

Leif — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:38:55 +0100

by: Leif

Description: I came across these in a local nature reserve on a warm but wet Summers day. After waiting an hour for the rain to stop, I finally got them both. Technical details: ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/20 seconds. Aperture: F16. Lens: 200mm Other equipment: tripod, cable release, clamp.

3 comments

Red Crested Pochard

Leif — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:52:48 +0000

by: Leif

Description: Another photograph from last weekend. Technical details: ISO: 400. Exposure: 1/1000 seconds. Aperture: F11. Lens: 400mm Sigma F5.6 APO Macro. Other equipment: tripod.

4 comments

Red Crested Pochard

Leif — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 19:46:29 +0000

by: Leif

Description: Photographed at Stockers Lake today. Technical details: ISO: 400. Exposure: 1/500 seconds. Aperture: F11. Lens: 400mm Sigma F5.6. Other equipment: tripod.

3 comments

Rhodotus palmatus

Leif — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:47:16 +0000

by: Leif

Description: These are a common sight on fallen Elm during the early Winter. Sadly Elm is now uncommon. Technical details: ISO: 100. Exposure: 1.3 seconds. Aperture: F16. Lens: 60mm Other equipment: tripod, cable release.

6 comments

Fly Agaric

Leif — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:11:08 +0000

by: Leif

Description: A group of Fly Agaric, Amanita muscaria, growing with Birch trees. Technical details: Lens: 12-24mm @ 18mm. ISO: 100. Exposure: 1/20 second. Aperture: F16. Fill flash: Yes. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release.

9 comments

Black Trumpets

Leif — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:06:17 +0000

by: Leif

Description: Some Black Trumpets - Pseudocraterellus cornucopioides - growing through leaf litter in a Beech wood. These are also known as Trompettes de la Mort, and Horn of Plenty. Technical details: Lens: 60mm. ISO: 100. Exposure: 2 second. Aperture: F16. Fill flash: Yes. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release, reflectors.

4 comments

Cortinarius pseudosalor

Leif — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 21:52:45 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Cortinarius pseudosalor is one of the most common Cortinarius species, and is not uncommon in Beech woods in the Autumn. The cap and stem are usually slimy, with distinct violet tones on the stem. Technical details: Lens: 60mm. ISO: 100. Exposure: 1/3 second. Aperture: F16. Fill flash: Yes. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release, reflectors.

4 comments

Mutinus caninus

Leif — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 21:48:35 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A not uncommon fungus in woods in the Autumn. The more common Stinkhorn is much larger. Technical details: Lens: 60mm. ISO: 100. Exposure: 2/3 second. Aperture: F16. Fill flash: Yes. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release, reflectors.

Common Blue Damselflies

Leif — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:42:48 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A pair of mating Common Blue Damselflies. Technical details: Lens: 200mm. ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/100 second. Aperture: F16. Fill flash: Yes. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release.

2 comments

Male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly

Leif — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 21:20:49 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A Male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly perching in a Hawthorn tree. I found this one after an hour of searching suitable trees. Technical details: Lens: 200mm. ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/50 second. Aperture: F16. Fill flash: Yes. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release.

Bracket Fungus

Leif — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 21:11:32 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A common bracket fungus, Ganoderma adspersum, growing on a fallen Birch tree. Technical details: Lens: 200mm. ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/13 second. Aperture: F16. Fill flash: Yes. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release.

Inocybe cookei

Leif — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:13:07 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This is a fairly common fungus, but like all Inocybe, a devil to id. (And after examining the spores under the microscope, I changed the id!) Technical details: Lens: 200mm. ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/3 second. Aperture: F16. Fill flash: Yes. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release, reflectors, diffuser.

2 comments

Male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly

Leif — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 18:55:18 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A sleepy Male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly resting on a dead plant stem. The wings were rather tatty hence the crop. Technical details: Lens: 200mm. ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/6 second. Aperture: F22. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release.

8 comments

Slimey Beech Tuft

Leif — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 20:19:25 +0100

by: Leif

Description: Oudemansiella mucida on a fallen Beech tree. This fungus, variously known as Slimey Beech Tuft, Poached Egg Fungus, and Porcelain Fungus, is a common find on dead Beech wood throughout the Autumn. Technical details: ISO: 200. Lens: 200mm. Aperture: F16 Exposure: 1/6 second. Flash: Yes. Other equipment: tripod, cable release.

2 comments

Snail Eating Fly

Leif — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 18:50:48 +0100

by: Leif

Description: This rather disgusting looking fly is feeding on a dollup of goo on a blade of grass. It has a weird funnel shaped face which I assume is used to suck up food. I was surprised at how it was able to move the funnel around like an extra foot. Thanks to "andymjukes" on Bird Forum for identifying this as a Snail Eating Fly. If anyone knows the species, or genus, please let me know. Incidentally I wrote this one off as hopeless due to the subject motion and the wind, and I only took some pictures so I had a record of the insect. It turned out far better than expected. Technical details: ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/10 second. Aperture: F22. Lens: 200mm. Fill flash: yes, built-in, -2 stops. Other equipment: tripod, cable release, Wimberly Plamp.

7 comments

Male Emerald Damselfly

Leif — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:43:47 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A Male Emerald Damselfly perching on flowering heather in the New Forest. Technical Details: ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/20 second. Aperture: F16. Lens: 200mm. Other equipment: tripod, cable release.

1 comment

Male Common Blue Butterfly

Leif — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 19:18:59 +0100

by: Leif

Description: A male common blue butterfly resting on a grass stem. The photo was taken shortly before sunset, and this insect was settling down for the night ahead. The slight breeze made life difficult for me. Technical Details: ISO: 200. Exposure: 1/60 second. Aperture: F16. Lens: 200mm. Other equipment: Tripod, cable release.

1 comment