Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: flower flies

After wolfing down pollen from many flowers, this hoverfly moved over to a stem to rest, stretch its legs and carefully clean its proboscis. I am totally thrilled that I was able to get these nice pictures today, and I have several more that turned out nicely as well. Don't you just love it when that happens?!! :D Explored on July 17, 2013. Highest placement, page 3.

Even though this picture isn't perfectly tack-sharp all over, I think this picture turned out really well with the chicory bokeh beyond and the interesting, almost posterized quality of this hoverfly's back. And you gotta admit, this guy's got SUPERFLY written all over it! :D :D

2 more pictures in notes above! This morning I went into the garden, and what should I find but another hoverfly like I did the other day! This one was doing a LOT of hovering in place, and after being totally frustrated with autofocus not zeroing in on the fly, I decided to turn it off and use manual focus. What a perfect subject to practice on! I rarely use manual focus because autofocus is so accurate with the Canon 100mm 2.8L lens. However, I also know that I should use manual focus more than I do, because autofocus isn't always reliable and there are times--like this--when you won't get the shot without using your own two eyes to focus! Once I brought my camera up and looked through the eyepiece, I was delighted how well I could track him as he hovered and moved here and there, focusing in and out and sometimes peering around my camera to see where it was. Just like anything, practice makes perfect, and my first bunch of shots were all a blur. But when I saw this picture on my computer, I burst out laughing and clapped my hands in exhultation!!! "I DID IT!! I DID IT!!!" I shrieked in excitement! Tack sharp with manual focus...*SNOOPY DANCE*!!! I would have liked to have been a little closer, but it's a minor complaint!! I will DEFINITELY be using manual focus more in the future, now that I can see that I can get very good results with my own focusing!! :D Publilius Syrus, a Latin writer of maxims, flourished in the 1st century BC. He was a Syrian who was brought as a slave to Italy, but by his wit and talent he won the favour of his master, who freed and educated him. Publilius' name, due to early medieval palatalization of 'l' between two 'i', is often presented by manuscripts (and some printed editions) in corrupt form as 'Publius'. Wikipedia: Publilius Syrus Explored on July 17, 2013. Highest placement, page 1 (#27).

Who doesn't love hoverflies?! They are so beautiful and it's so incredibly cool how they can hover in place, perfectly still, and then, quick as a flash, disappear in a burst of speed! These insects are also known as "flower flies" because adults eat nectar and pollen for their diet. They are excellent mimics of bees and wasps, and are often mistaken for them, though hoverflies are actually harmless! :) Did you know there are over 6,000 species worldwide?! They range in size from smaller than a grain of rice to larger than a bumble bee! If you would like to know more about these super cool flies, Wiki has a great page here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverfly

I saw a very tiny insect buzzing around a blindweed blossom (they are a small wild morning glory) and when I looked closer, I saw that it was an itty bitty hoverfly, about the size of a grain of rice! I cannot resist a challenge so I tried to get a clear picture to share. I really didn't think I'd get one because when it was in motion, it was crawling all over the flower really fast, and when it stopped, it was on the opposite side of the stamens and I couldn't see it! However, when I looked at my pictures, I discovered that I actually got a clear shot! HOORAY!!!

2 more pictures in notes above! :) Yesterday I was delighted because a new flower is blooming in my little garden, and I was very excited to feature it for my Picture of the Day! In fact, I'd finished taking pictures and was appreciating the beautiful poppies that are all blazing away in red and pink when I saw a hoverfly zoom up to a poppy! I LOVE HOVERFLIES!!!! They make me hyperventilate in excitement, and I instantly zeroed in on my new best little buzzy buddy and started taking pictures! It was actually very mellow and let me take all the pictures I wanted as it crawled around and posed for the camera! "Do I look better from the left? Or from the right? Head in the pollen? Oh, I know, I'll hover for a second or two and give you a challenge!" :D :D I got lots of wonderful pictures, and I have another one to share today, as well as ANOTHER hoverfly just larger than a grain of rice! (This hoverfly was about 3/4" in length) Plato (BC[a] – 348/347 BC) was a philosopher in Classical Greece. He was also a mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the foundations of Western philosophy and science. Wikipedia: Plato Explored on July 12, 2013. Highest position, page 4. Also Explored on Flickr on July 13, 2013. Highest placement: #113.