Autumn Wasp

**Bilbo_baggin** · 15th September 2010

Today, if the weather is anything as bad where you are as it is here, you'll know it is incredibly windy. So if that's what you have too, you'll appreciate how much a challenge grabbing this shot was!

I had to wait for the wind to drop, and the wasp to make it to a part of the flower where I could even get a photo of it. The wind coming in was almost impossible so I had to quickly drag the recycling bin from a few feet away to try and use it as a wind break. It did help a little bit, and just as the wind for a couple of seconds eased, the wasp climbed across the petal of the poppy and stuck it's head up!

Flash, flash, flash!!!

I fired off just three shots (batteries wouldn't allow me any more in the flash unit, they are due to be replaced soon!) and on the first two the wind had moved the flower and wasp out of the focal plane, but on the third, it was almost, if not 100% there!

Anyway, a careful bit of work in the processing of the head allowed me to bring some sharpness into it.

The upshot is a colourful autumnal wasp photo.

Enjoy.

Exif:

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D
Lens: 105mm
Image Date: 2010-09-15
Focal Length: 105mm
Aperture: f/4.5
Exposure Time: 0.0080 s (1/125)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes (Manual)
Color Space: sRGB
Photographer: Paul Iddon
Copyright: www.pauliddon.co.uk

Paul.

**dpSparhawk** · 15th September 2010

Aye you did well to get that mate. Well recovered for the sharpness. I like the DoF in this. You can clearly see the rest of the body but it's nice and blurred. Plus the good thing I suppose about potential OOF shots is that there's always Fractalius

It's been blowing a gale here since early yesterday.

William is showing a few signs of wanting his afternoon nap so if he drops off I may venture into the garden.