Re: Today in pictures
 

Thanks Margaret, I have a fascination for bugs, beetles and flying insects, there's a whole microcosm that people very rarely see.

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Yes...and I am sure it must be fascinating.....but while there is not much scares me.....I am a bit scared of bugs...especially the ones that have yellow and black stripes and wings.:)

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Cute kitty, I also have a calico.

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Thanks Jack.

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Green Dock Beetles, like their name suggests they can be found on dock leaves and plants (and they are green). The larger ones are the females being about 8-10mm, the smaller ones are the males and about 4-6mm long.

Re: Today in pictures
 

We took my friend's grandson to the War Museum North and Salford Quays yesterday. He is studying modern history for his A levels or whatever they call them. Here are a few snaps I took. The rusty girders are from the Twin Towers in New York after the terrorist attack. On the hour every hour a short film is projected on the walls around the place with sounds and commentary. The last photo is just one shot of them.

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Looks like you had a lovely day for it Russell.
Some great shots there. Well done.

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My second butterfly of the year a Peacock

Second image is a Bee Fly - Bombylius major and despite it's appearance that spike is it's proboscis and is used for drinking nectar and is totally harmless.

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Is this a steam train which I see before me,
The engine toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A engine of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?

Adapted from Macbeth by Bill Shakespeare....

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Bluebell Woods near Whalley....

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A couple from today:

1. Class 50 50015 Valiant arriving at Ramsbottom this afternoon.
2. Nomad Bee - Nomada leucophthalma

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Ryewolf the detail on the bee is amazing...you must have a very steady hand....and be very brave.
I would only attempt a shot so close if the bee was dead...or snoring!.
I am a hero really, but they gave me cowards legs:)

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Yesterday was such a miserable day that I decided to brighten it up a bit by doing some creative stuff.
I stamped these images on the cards and then spent time colouring them with alcohol markers(that is as close as I get to alcohol these days).
The cards I made are generic,(apart from the cupcake one - that is a birthday card) so when I am alsked for a card I can add Birthday, get Well or some other sentiment that fits.

Not a patch on your bee Ryewolf.

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Thanks Margaret, most bees don't sting, and these Nomad Bees, also known as Cuckoo Bees because they lay eggs in the nests of other bees, don't possess stingers.



Even wasps won't sting unless they feel threatened - obviously flailing your arms around like a windmill whenever they come near doesn't help, but they seem to know when you aren't afraid of them. I get wasps landing on me all the time when I'm out photographing bugs. They are attracted by smells and scents, which is how they find their way about or look for food, they'll look around and if you keep fairly still they shouldn't bother you.



This shot of the bee was taken around 6pm and as it wasn't very warm they do tend to slow down a bit when it gets colder.


The detail is down to the equipment used, I have a macro lens (ie one used specifically for close ups), plus I use an extension tube - which allows me to get even closer to my subject, it also magnifies everything. This bee was about 12mm long, plus I have a ring flash which means the time it tales to photograph them is ridiculously short, however it does mean I have to get really close. I think on this shot my face was about 6 inches away, my camera lens was probably around 2 inches away.

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Yes, it was always instilled in me as a child to stand still....and while this is the right thing to do, when fear kicks in the primal instinct is to run.

I would say that over the years I have become less of a runner(maybe that's because the cowardly legs are less fleet than they were) and more of an avoider.
Nature gave these critters black and yellow vests as a warning....and I am more than happy to let you take the pics, and me to know that I can see the thing with no risk at all.

I guessed that you would have the appropriate equipment to allow you to make such an amazing capture.
That takes nothing away from your ability to compose the shot.
It is still very well done.