So I am always trying to improve my photography…right? But one subject that always eludes me is the “Bug Shot”. I see all these great macro shots others take of flies and bees and such, and I can never get close to them. Part of my problem is that I’m impatient…another part of the problem is that my macro lens is only a 60 mm which means I have to get really close to get a decent shot.
Well, of course, when you get really close to a bug….it usually flies away. See my problem here?
So on Friday I noticed a fly in the window and thought “Here’s my perfect opportunity!”. I snuck up on it and caught it in a jar. I then popped it into the refrigerator to chill it and induce a torpor state so that I would be able to actually get close to it. When really cold, it wouldn’t move much and I’d have a few moments to snap happily away before it warmed up.
Sounded good in theory.
After about 30 minutes I went and got my fly. I shook it out onto a small rock and shone a bright light on it. I got the camera raised and started to focus, but it moved, so I turned the rock and focused again, and it moved! Then it warmed up enough to lazily fly across the room…and right into the waiting maw of Loki, our brilliant (not) little hunter.
My cat ate my photographic subject!!! And to think I felt sorry for it when I put it into the fridge….
So, my “Fly-day Friday” became a No-Fly-Friday” or a No FlyDay!