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Sparkling Hunter
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Sparkling Hunter

by Wayne Jones

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted June 9, 2015134 views4 comments

The ebony jewelwing has been one of my favorite insects since I was a kid.  In the right light, the males are more brilliant than almost any other creature in my area.  Their bouncy, butterfly-like motion in flight appears a bit awkward, but they are in fact skillful hunters.  This one has just caught a small crane fly.  It made quick work of gobbling up the slender legs before it finished off the unlucky struggling insect.  A few seconds later, it was hunting again.

Canon 7D2; Sigma 150mm. Macro + 1.4XC TC
1/125 sec. @ f/13; ISO 1250

 

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on June 9, 2015 at 6:18 PM

These guys are fun to watch (and chase photographically) as their color sparkles so nicely at times while they tend to hang out along shady river banks.  Love the "caught prey" here and those sharp iridescent blues in the wings.  I have a good idea about how hard these are to photograph and "you done well here", Wayne.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on June 9, 2015 at 7:51 PM

Great capture of the moment and of the beautiful blue iridescence!  I also like the way he is looking right at the camera. Very nicely done, Wayne!

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on June 10, 2015 at 6:43 PM

Very nice capture of the capture, Wayne. He looks gulity. 

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 11, 2015 at 12:57 PM

Great job exposing in this light Wayne, like the head on view with prey..

Nice details, Well done!devil

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