Hi everyone! It’s Cindy here. Recently Charlie picked up a new macro lens and has been having fun learning how to use it. The main use for a macro lens is to take extreme close ups of your subject. As a reminder you can click on all the pictures to see a much bigger version.
Bumblebee on Red Dahlia
There is a very nice arboretum near us that has some dahlias so Charlie has taken a few trips there when the weather was nice and calm. In order to get sharp pictures there can’t be much movement in the subject. This bumblebee was still waking up from spending the night on this dahlia.
Can you find the hidden bugs on this dahlia?
(clicking on the image to make it bigger will help)
Sometimes the bugs are so small you don’t even see them when you are taking the picture as is the case with the picture above. Here is a hint there is a super tiny bug just left of center and a slightly larger one right of center hiding below the petals.
Hoverfly on Potentilla flower
Right in our own back yard one of Charlie’s favorite subjects has been bugs on the potentilla flowers. Just for reference these flowers are only about 3/4 of an inch (2 cm) in diameter.
Now I think I have to warn anyone that doesn’t like spiders much that the next few pictures might just creep you out a bit.
Crab spider on Potentilla flower
The crab spiders like to hide in plants and flowers and ambush their prey.
Crab spider on Potentilla plant
These small spiders blend into their surroundings very well. One thing that is amazing about these pictures is that to the naked eye you cannot see the tiny hairs all over this little guy.
Crab spider with prey
The crab spider above has captured another spider that is even smaller than it. This last picture was created using a technique called “focus stacking“. There were multiple images taken very quickly at different focal points (the camera does this automatically when you set it up). Then the images are combined to create one image where more of the subject is in focus than would be with just one image.
I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the creepy little things Charlie has found with his macro lens. It’s amazing to look at these creatures almost as if you had them under a microscope.
Join the Nature Friday Blog Hop
We are joining the LLB Gang for their Nature Friday Blog Hop. You should pop over to their blog to see all the other posts.
Hari OM
Not only did I love seeing the nature – I very much enjoyed the photographic info!!! YAM xx
Wow, those are amazing images…shudders at that spider…LOL!
That’s quite a lens!
Sent from my iPad
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I must get me a macro lens!
My favourite would be the flower with the hidden bugs, the spider ones come second.
Klem
Wow – your photos are just outstanding and there is no way that we could choose a favorite. They are all just beautiful!
Those pictures are amazing especially the one of the spider eating the spider.
I biggified the photo and found both bugs. Photography is a great hobby, and can produce some very interesting results.
Yay to Charlie for such excellent photos of the itty bitty critters I had no idea even existed. WOW
Hugs cecilia
this is perfect for nature friday, what could be better? Macro is my favoiite of photography. My DSLR died and i can’t afford another one, cell phones and dumb cameras don’t do well with close up. these are amazing.. i did find the two bugs before I read where they were and I love to find things in photos that i did not see with the camera. my favorite is the crab on the yellow flower. great shots
Very beautiful nature picture
Charlee: “Ooh! Yeah! Extreme closeups of bugs would be—AAAAHHHHH OMG GIANT SPIDER RUN AWAY!!!!!”
Lulu: “What was that all about?”
Chaplin: “Nothing. Just Charlee channeling Dennis, I think.”
We love little creepy crawlies, and always keep an eye out for them! In fact, we’re actually kind of sad that we haven’t had many spiders around this summer. (Probably the birds are eating them.)
WOW, those photos are amazing, bravo!!!
Those images are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G-L-Y unbelievable. Love the detail the macro lens provides. Kudos to Charlie for getting so up close and personal with nature.
What gorgeous shots! I was looking at the macro lenses you can get for the iPhone this week as I was thinking about doing some and low and behold – you post some exquisite photos! I LOVE them! Now I am even more sure I would like to get a macro lens! THanks
Your photos are incredible. Between this and your crochet skills, you are so very talented. I was just singing your praises to my daughter about the amazing afghans you have created.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
Those are beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing them with us.
Woofs,
Ollie
Gorgeous shots!!
Those are amazing pictures, and Gail is now heading out to see what is hiding in our potentilla!
Belated Happy Nature Friday!
these are really great shots! That lens is great!
I love how a macro lens can let you see worlds that are too small to otherwise see! That hoverfly on the flower is spectacular! And I do like spiders so I loved those photos too!
Cindy you are the only one to see my selfie so far!!
Hugs Cecilia
Great photos! I have a friend who has a fear of spiders, I once told here that I’d read you’re never more than three feet from a spider. She didn’t like that fact.
I absolutely love, love, LOVE that top picture! The flower is such a pretty colour and the bee looks super cute. PURRS