Picky Eater [Contest Finalists April 2010]
Uploaded: April 24, 2010 05:00:28
~Paper Wasp~
OK, so it's not the prettiest face around but it was a hot TX summer day and nothing was moving in my backyard, except for wasps...lots of them!
This one was found on our deck eating a discarded half of a grape...evidently, the skins of grapes aren't all that enticing to a wasp - but every piece of the flesh of the grape was eaten...just leaving the hollowed-out sack...
Taken in the hot, dry TX summer of 2009
Exif: F Number: 18, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 2/30 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 400, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 105.00 mm, Model: NIKON D300
Monnie Ryan April 24, 2010
Instant assessment: Yikes! If I'd seen more than one or two together I'd have been in the next county in 10 seconds flat! That said, terrific close-up of this one. Interesting that he wouldn't eat the skin. Maybe their jaws aren't strong enough to tear it apart? Maybe the bitter taste? #1262075Freddy Bland April 24, 2010
Super image, Valarie, with stunning clarity!!! #8566085Mary Beth Aiello April 24, 2010
Ugh!. You're right. Not the prettiest insect. But your title -- and macro -- are spot on, Valarie. Wonderful details. #8566115Ron McEwan April 24, 2010
Can't say much for your model here Valarie but for the photo op you took the advantage of at some risk I am sure, you nailed it, the macro is superb. #8566202Jack Ryan April 24, 2010
Wow! What a great photo op...and you took full advantage of it. Excellent detail and color...well composed...great work! #8566293Robert R. Goodman April 24, 2010
Hi Valarie,OMG just how big are your wasps.Beautiful macro my friend.Awesome capture!!! #8566304Sam Britt April 24, 2010
You're brave! I would have been afraid of being stung by that wasp. Terrific close-up, Val. #8566317Amy M. Wilson April 24, 2010
I bet it's mom thinks it's beautiful! lol Excellent close-up, details, clarity and lighting... wonderful work, Valarie! #8566360Courtenay Vanderbilt April 24, 2010
You are a brave one, Valarie! Excellent capture! #8566380Thomas E. Hinds April 24, 2010
Amazing image, Valarie! Terrific detail! He does look to be gigantic! Well done! #8566490Tammy M. Anderson April 24, 2010
Outstanding details and clarity, Valarie. Excellent capture. #8566567Jean-Pierre Ducondi April 24, 2010
Stunning details Valarie.Debra R. Harder April 24, 2010
Your macros are always superb, Valarie! The details are amazing!!! Ever saw the movie, "Food of the Gods" (a horror flick with gigantic insects). Well...this tenacious little guy seems bigger than life!! Brilliant...as always!! Deb #8566791Kerry Hill April 24, 2010
Fantastic close-up with excellent details Valarie, great work! #8567124David Guzman April 24, 2010
Superb image of this paper wasp. I personally think wasps are one of the best insect subjects around. Their faces are very interesting and attract people's attention..for many reasons..fear, awe, etc...and their colors are so beautiful. Great image here. #8567259Donna La Mattino Pagakis April 24, 2010
Incredible details on this awesome macro! #8567304Julianne Bradford April 24, 2010
Awesome study in behavior and terrific macro Valarie! #8567493Kathy Salerni April 24, 2010
Holy cow, Valarie, I would be running for the hills! But, there are brave photographers out there who will show us the face of a wasp!!! Awesome macro image with great details, color and POV! #8567506Ann Coates April 24, 2010
Amazing capture here Valarie. I remember wasps eating the plums that fell off our plum tree a few years back and they got high. They couldn't even fly. #8567573Maria A. Gonzalez April 25, 2010
Good morning,Val..Excellent macro of this wasp with fine detail and colors.Margaret R. Barry April 25, 2010
Fantastic clarity and detail, Valarie. I'll never get this close to one of these with my macro lens. You're very brave! #8568252Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna April 25, 2010
INCREDIBLE, Val! WOW! :-) k #8569054Patrick Rouzes April 25, 2010
Fantstic tones, detail, clarity, textures & capture! Super job here, Valarie! #8569195Julie Burnett April 26, 2010
Outstanding details and clarity, Val!! He looks larger than life!! #8570415Val Feldman April 26, 2010
Thanks, all...I really wasn't all that brave, nor that close - the 105mm kept me a safe distance away and living in TX, I sure know all the signals when a wasp is "riled"! This guy just wanted to be left alone with his feast! Have a good day, all! #8570801Ellen Hodges April 26, 2010
Wonderful color and exquisite detail, Val! Straight to favs. WOW! #8570845Carol L. Fowler April 26, 2010
Looks like he doesn't want you messing with his dinner! Great macro #8571543Marty Straub April 27, 2010
Wow, Valarie, you got close enough to capture his character and determination. You seem to have managed a "look" in his eye. Way to get down with the wasps. #8573339Karen Celella April 27, 2010
Fantastic macro with terrific details and story Valarie! #8573449Laura E. Swan April 27, 2010
OM GOSH! You have delivered us all right in to this critters world! WOWZA! Your mid range focus is really super, Valarie.Impressive!!! FAV'D!
-Laura #8574706
Jim Baines April 29, 2010
What a face! You should carry a small flask of Vodka with a spritzer on it so you can immobilize these critters if they should attack! They can sting more than once, remember?? And if they don't attack .. you can have a fun time driving back to the house while trying to stay "focused"! A stunning li'l piece o' work here, Texanna!! #8579163Tommy E. Burgess April 30, 2010
Stunning macro work Valarie!! You've really done an outstanding job of putting us into the small world of this wasp. Hope this gets a gold, it's a real gem! #8579587Summer A. Kozisek May 03, 2010
Unbelievable macro, the details are outstanding! #8587563Gina Cormier May 04, 2010
Damn....where did I put my wasp spray!!! Psssssssssssssssssst!!! Whew...got em!!!Very cool shot getting your little face right in front of his.. Brave girl!!! Fab detail and image as always!!!!
:-) #8588438
Jack Ryan May 24, 2010
One of my all time favorites of yours...congratulations for this very deserving finalist!!! #8633234Kelly S. Cavanaugh May 24, 2010
Congratulations on your fantastic finalist, Valarie!! WTG! #8633249Laura E. Swan May 24, 2010
Huge Congrats On Your Wonderful Valarie! Your Bug DID IT! :D
-Laura :) #8633679
Carol Eade May 24, 2010
Congratulations, Valarie, that's a terrific macro...you're sure brave to get so close! #8633884Robert R. Goodman May 24, 2010
Beautiful capture my friend.A big congratulations,Valarie!!!! #8633925Courtenay Vanderbilt May 24, 2010
Incredible macro, Valarie! Congratulations! #8633991Nancyj E. Hovey May 24, 2010
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N SAnn Coates May 24, 2010
Congratulations on your outstanding finalist Valarie. #8634669Julianne Bradford May 24, 2010
Outstanding finalist Valarie! WTG! #8634928Tammy Espino May 24, 2010
Another fantastic win!! :) #8635384Tammy Espino May 24, 2010
Another fantastic win!! :) #8635385Thomas E. Hinds May 24, 2010
Wonderful Finalist, Valarie! Love it! WTG! #8635477Amy M. Wilson May 24, 2010
Congratulations on your excellent Finalist, Valarie!!! #8636041Patti Coblentz May 24, 2010
I don't know how I missed this image, Val...just fantastic!!! Congratulations on your finalist!Rony Sagy May 24, 2010
Congrats Val on this one too. Wonderful selection. #8636651Sam Britt May 24, 2010
Big congrats again, Val! #8636976Tommy E. Burgess May 24, 2010
Huge congratulations on this most stunning capture Val!! I really hope you wind up with a gold for this extrordinary capture! #8637845Stefania Barbier May 24, 2010
congratulations on your lovely finalist!!! #8637954Julie Burnett May 25, 2010
Congratulations on this excellent finalist, Val! #8638828Douglas Pignet May 25, 2010
Congrats on your finalist...Very well done #8638837Ellen Hodges May 25, 2010
Congrats on a ll your awesome finalists, Val! Very best luck in the next round! Love em all!! #8638903Jeff Robinson May 25, 2010
Congrats Valarie on your Finalist!! Jeff #8639082Carol L. Fowler May 25, 2010
This is great! Congrats! #8640683Val Feldman May 25, 2010
Thanks to all of you for stopping by with words of encouragement and support...as always, I very much appreciate!! ~Val #8640738Freddy Bland May 25, 2010
Hard to believe we share the same planet with these little creatures!! Outstanding details and color!!! Congratulations on a spectacular Finalist!! #8641042Kathy Salerni May 25, 2010
Congratulations on this outstanding finalist image, Valarie! #8642621Debra R. Harder May 31, 2010
I remember this fabulous image...simply superb, Valarie! Huge congratulations on another excellent finalist! Deb #8654988Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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