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Dangerous Beauty

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted November 14, 2013101 views6 comments

Golden Paper Wasp (polistes fuscatus) feeding on flowering Dill.
I've been stung a few times in my life by wasps, once by this guy.
I was working a nest for some shots, and just got too close.
5 or 6 came at me, all of one mind, all at once.
Just like little kamikazes.
I'll never forget it.. Wish I had the tape. You know, just for shits & giggles.

F/10, 1/125th, ISO 400, 1D M3, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 with fill flash.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on November 14, 2013 at 8:53 PM

I HATE wasps....you did a great job on the color, clarity and composition..........Especially, after being stung

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on November 14, 2013 at 10:12 PM

Excellent details and composition with pleasing perch and background.
Yes, I've been stung by paper wasps, too. They are fierce defenders of the nest, but they don't stand a chance against a vengeful night attack.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on November 15, 2013 at 5:30 PM

I too have had the experience of being stung because I got to close to a nest....only it was honey bees and my mom pulled over 100 stingers out of my 6 year old head. I've also been stung by wasps and boy do they hurt! This is a great look at this wasp, the details in it's red and yellow head are neat and coordinate so well with the yellow parsley flower.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on November 16, 2013 at 5:26 PM

Ouch.....!!!
Thankfully, I've only been bitten by these guys a very few times during my long time here on planet earth. They hurt....

Wonderful very closeup take on this one too, Howard. Curious about the plant, as you've called flowering parsley. Kind of looks very similar to mustard weed as I call it.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 16, 2013 at 6:20 PM

Hi Paul & thanx!
You're right, it's probably dill.
Anyway, it was one of those things she planted in her herb garden :)

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on November 18, 2013 at 11:24 AM

I'm guessing you got stung AFTER this shot since I'm assuming your photo shoot ended after that encounter?

What we photographers don't go through at times to get our shots.

Well, if it helps to know, your efforts and the bad consequences resulted in a great macro image of this wasp, Howard

Lots of good details visible. . .I especially like the spotted eyes. The lighting is good, as is the perch and background, and the colors all work well together too.

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments