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Back Stabber

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted November 24, 2013249 views14 comments

Shot in late summer, this is a Giant Robber Fly from the species 'Promachus' (who leads in battle).
It came to rest, conveniently, on the arm rest of a backyard patio chair..
F/20, .3 second, ISO 400, Sigma 150mm with fill.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by chris ward on November 24, 2013 at 6:03 PM

excellent details, great shot

Registered on November 10, 2013, 52 Posts, 33 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on November 24, 2013 at 8:03 PM

Fantastic capture, Howard (both you and the Robber Fly). Superb detail and I like the scale provided by the smaller fly. So, do Robber Flies feed on House Flies? Did it land on the smaller fly? We don't have Robber Flies in Ohio, thank goodness, as they look nasty and enormous.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 24, 2013 at 8:42 PM

Awesome detail and to get the robber with prey is really great. Gives a nice sense of scale as well

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on November 25, 2013 at 12:44 AM

Howard: This spiked my

-meter! Great capture of a unique moment. The reflection on the arm of the chair puts this way over the top for me. Many kudos!

>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 25, 2013 at 6:58 AM

Howard, this is really nice, with the subject (live and soon-to-be dead) fully in focus (thanks to f/20), the background, and the reflection in the chair. Well done.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 25, 2013 at 8:25 AM

"So, do Robber Flies feed on House Flies? Did it land on the smaller fly? "
They'll eat/catch anything that flies.. Birds maybe not

As far as landing on the fly? Don't think so.. The prey needs to be inflight 99% of the time as far as I know Scott

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

Comment posted by Yun Gao on November 26, 2013 at 8:47 PM

Howard, This is wonderful! Great action, superb detail and good title as usual. The large version is a must see. Congrats!

Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on November 27, 2013 at 5:29 AM

Howard:

Fabulous shot and the reflection makes this one special. Although one tends to associate the aggressor as nasty, it also bears a battle scar (missing pincher on left forearm).

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on November 29, 2013 at 2:16 PM

Wow, what a great look at this robber fly in action! The details in both flies are great plus you've got some fine color contrasts between the chair arm (with what looks like some sky reflection) and the background. Great job!

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on December 5, 2013 at 5:39 PM

Excellent detail on this closeup, Howard.......Congrats on another EP / WP selection too......

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

Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on December 5, 2013 at 8:43 PM

Amazing image. Love the angle, like you were stalking up on the killer.

Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on December 7, 2013 at 9:30 PM

Howard,
Congratulations on the WP for this outstanding image and the reflection, as mentioned, is a nice addition and also enhanced the lighting on the underside of the Robber Fly.
Well Done . . .