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Picky Eater

© Val Feldman
Deluxe Website: valfeldmanphotos.com

Picky Eater

Uploaded: April 24, 2010

Description

~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

Comments

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? #1262075

Freddy Bland April 24, 2010

Super image, Valarie, with stunning clarity!!! #8566085

Mary Beth Aiello level-classic April 24, 2010

Ugh!. You're right. Not the prettiest insect. But your title -- and macro -- are spot on, Valarie. Wonderful details. #8566115

Ron 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. #8566202

Jack 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! #8566293

Robert R. Goodman April 24, 2010

Hi Valarie,OMG just how big are your wasps.Beautiful macro my friend.Awesome capture!!! #8566304

Sam Britt April 24, 2010

You're brave! I would have been afraid of being stung by that wasp. Terrific close-up, Val. #8566317

Amy 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! #8566360

Courtenay Vanderbilt April 24, 2010

You are a brave one, Valarie! Excellent capture! #8566380

Thomas E. Hinds April 24, 2010

Amazing image, Valarie! Terrific detail! He does look to be gigantic! Well done! #8566490

Tammy M. Anderson level-deluxe April 24, 2010

Outstanding details and clarity, Valarie. Excellent capture. #8566567

Jean-Pierre Ducondi April 24, 2010

Stunning details Valarie.
JP #8566651

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 #8566791

Kerry Hill April 24, 2010

Fantastic close-up with excellent details Valarie, great work! #8567124

David 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. #8567259

Donna La Mattino Pagakis April 24, 2010

Incredible details on this awesome macro! #8567304

Julianne Bradford April 24, 2010

Awesome study in behavior and terrific macro Valarie! #8567493

Kathy Salerni level-classic 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! #8567506

Ann Coates level-classic 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. #8567573

Maria A. Gonzalez April 25, 2010

Good morning,Val..Excellent macro of this wasp with fine detail and colors.
I agree with Amy,it's mother thinks it's beautiful and I find them a very interesting subject to photograph..Great close-up and work.
Have a great Sunday. #8567908

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! #8568252

Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna April 25, 2010

INCREDIBLE, Val! WOW! :-) k #8569054

Patrick Rouzes level-classic April 25, 2010

Fantstic tones, detail, clarity, textures & capture! Super job here, Valarie! #8569195

Julie Burnett April 26, 2010

Outstanding details and clarity, Val!! He looks larger than life!! #8570415

Val Feldman level-deluxe 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! #8570801

Ellen Hodges April 26, 2010

Wonderful color and exquisite detail, Val! Straight to favs. WOW! #8570845

Carol L. Fowler April 26, 2010

Looks like he doesn't want you messing with his dinner! Great macro #8571543

Marty 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. #8573339

Karen Celella April 27, 2010

Fantastic macro with terrific details and story Valarie! #8573449

Laura E. Swan level-classic 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 level-classic 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!! #8579163

Tommy 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! #8579587

Summer A. Kozisek May 03, 2010

Unbelievable macro, the details are outstanding! #8587563

Gina 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!!! #8633234

Kelly S. Cavanaugh May 24, 2010

Congratulations on your fantastic finalist, Valarie!! WTG! #8633249

Laura E. Swan level-classic May 24, 2010

Photobucket

Huge Congrats On Your Wonderful Valarie! Your Bug DID IT! :D

-Laura :) #8633679

Carol Eade level-addict May 24, 2010

Congratulations, Valarie, that's a terrific macro...you're sure brave to get so close! #8633884

Robert R. Goodman May 24, 2010

Beautiful capture my friend.A big congratulations,Valarie!!!! #8633925

Courtenay Vanderbilt May 24, 2010

Incredible macro, Valarie! Congratulations! #8633991

Nancyj E. Hovey level-classic May 24, 2010

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
on your very deserving FINALIST! 8o) #8634595

Ann Coates level-classic May 24, 2010

Congratulations on your outstanding finalist Valarie. #8634669

Julianne Bradford May 24, 2010

Outstanding finalist Valarie! WTG! #8634928

Tammy Espino May 24, 2010

Another fantastic win!! :) #8635384

Tammy Espino May 24, 2010

Another fantastic win!! :) #8635385

Thomas E. Hinds May 24, 2010

Wonderful Finalist, Valarie! Love it! WTG! #8635477

Amy M. Wilson May 24, 2010

Congratulations on your excellent Finalist, Valarie!!! #8636041

Patti Coblentz May 24, 2010

I don't know how I missed this image, Val...just fantastic!!! Congratulations on your finalist!
Patti #8636317

Rony Sagy May 24, 2010

Congrats Val on this one too. Wonderful selection. #8636651

Sam Britt May 24, 2010

Big congrats again, Val! #8636976

Tommy 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! #8637845

Stefania Barbier level-classic May 24, 2010

congratulations on your lovely finalist!!! #8637954

Julie Burnett May 25, 2010

Congratulations on this excellent finalist, Val! #8638828

Douglas Pignet May 25, 2010

Congrats on your finalist...Very well done #8638837

Ellen Hodges May 25, 2010

Congrats on a ll your awesome finalists, Val! Very best luck in the next round! Love em all!! #8638903

Jeff Robinson level-deluxe May 25, 2010

Congrats Valarie on your Finalist!! Jeff #8639082

Carol L. Fowler May 25, 2010

This is great! Congrats! #8640683

Val Feldman level-deluxe May 25, 2010

Thanks to all of you for stopping by with words of encouragement and support...as always, I very much appreciate!! ~Val #8640738

Freddy 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!! #8641042

May 25, 2010

Great! #8641713

Kathy Salerni level-classic May 25, 2010

Congratulations on this outstanding finalist image, Valarie! #8642621

Debra R. Harder May 31, 2010

I remember this fabulous image...simply superb, Valarie! Huge congratulations on another excellent finalist! Deb #8654988

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