Eye to eye

At last the wind dropped and I managed to get in close not there just yet but dare I suggest progress? Don't laugh I think it was a fly. OK laugh.

Canon 1D3 Canon 180mm Hand held also held my breath f/5.0 1/80 sec
RAW to Lt room PS5 resized to post. Distance from subject 8 inches SK

Critique, Advice, comments most welcome thanks for looking.

Hand held, breath held - That's the way to do it. A good study of the subject's face which is all you will get using f5.0. If that was your intention then you have succeeded very well indeed. Search here for ID.

http://www.hoverfly.org.uk/album_cat.php?cat_id=1

I'll have a guess that this is a hover fly, but goodness knows which species. As a photo, it is one of your best macros so far, Barry. I think a smaller aperture would have served you well, as David suggests, but even so a good shot.

David

Don't you mean 18" Barry???

Looks sharp where it matters

Looks sharp where it matters

Indeed it does, like the placement within frame too

Distance from subject 8 inches SK Scary Barry at that distance, a brave man.

Barry the detail on the large image is pin sharp well done getting that close.

Keith.

Yes a smaller aperture would have been better. Positioning is nice as mentioned and one of your better ones. I personally would have liked more in focus.
You don't say what ISO ?
Tried fill on camera flash ?
Cheers
JR

I had one of these in my garden last week, its very large for a hoverfly and very plump in rear body segment, not flattened like typical garden H'flies, its some form of bumble bee mimic much larger than a blue bottle for example. This seems to be feeding a a St Johns Wort sp flower to give you an idea of size.

Distinctive yellow face, chocolate brown thorax, half clear wings, white rear segment with darker tip.

Barry your image is spot on for the facial id, unfortunately I did not get my camera out in time - they are quite impressive beasties if it is H'fly family, my initial impression was its fly genus not H'fly genus by its sheer size and body proportions, if that makes sense! but my insect id prowess is none existent!

Update with a bit of googling I think it is the Volucella sp of hoverfly, live and learn!

Mike
Is it not ragwort ?
JR

Possibly,

....the composite/stamen cluster looks lemon yellow and not orange for ordinary ragwort and I thought Oxford Ragwort has more rounded and bi-toothed ended petals than here? hence I plumped for St Johns Wort sp although OOF flowers do look more orange with hindsight

Thanks Guys my summer project has been insect faces still work in progress, many thanks for comments.