Jewels of the Still Pond

Probably one of the last ones this year.

#damselfly #insectmacro #dragonflyfamily #wildlifecloseup #macrophotography #bugsofinstagram #naturelovers #insectlovers #macroart #biodiversity

Emerald Acrobat on a Blade

#grasshopper #macroshot #naturecloseup #wildlifephotography #insectmacro #naturedetails #greenworld #naturephotography

Summer’s Small Wonders

It’s been an intense week job hunting—stressful, but necessary. When the tension builds, I return to my medicine: walking and photography. This time of year, midsummer, wildlife can be scarce. So I turned my attention to the smaller residents of the Kampina near Oisterwijk.

With my Canon 5D Mark III and MP-E macro lens, I captured a common honeybee at work. Then a Calopteryx splendens—known in Dutch as the weidebeekjuffer—its metallic blues shimmering in the sun. A gatekeeper butterfly (Pyronia tithonus) with weathered wings reminded me that beauty exists in imperfection. Another posed with wings closed, its patterned eyes giving the illusion of a cross-eyed stare—an optical quirk of insect anatomy.

A small emerald moth (Hemistola chrysoprasaria) rested among blooming heath (Calluna vulgaris), a gentle hint that summer’s edge is near. Nearby, four perfectly shaped green leaves formed the silhouette of a butterfly—nature’s accidental mimicry.

Switching to my Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm, I explored further. After a week of rain, the forest floor has begun to transform—mushrooms emerging like quiet sculptures. These fruiting bodies of fungi are not just beautiful; they are vital recyclers, returning nutrients to the soil and supporting entire ecosystems.

Next up: a closer look at the “wonderful world of fungus.” Until then, I’ll keep walking, keep noticing, and keep sharing.

#MacroPhotography #Canon5DMarkIII #Canon7DMarkII #Sigma100400 #MPE65mm #WildlifeMacro #NatureCloseUp #InsectPhotography #BeePhotography #Damselfly #CalopteryxSplendens #Weidebeekjuffer #ButterflyPhotography #PyroniaTithonus #GatekeeperButterfly #SmallEmeraldMoth #HemistolaChrysoprasaria #HeathFlowers #CallunaVulgaris #LeafMimicry #NaturePatterns #SummerNature #Kampina #Oisterwijk #DutchNature #Biodiversity #InsectMacro #Pollinators #WildlifeOfTheNetherlands #InsectsOfInstagram #MothOrButterfly #NatureObservation #CloseUpNature #MacroMagic #SmallWorldBigBeauty

200 Metre Dash?
This blue dasher looks like she's poised and ready at the starting gate.
#nature #naturephotography #natur #insekt #wildlife #wildlifephotography #naturfotografie #MacroPhotography #naturemacro #insect #insectphotography #entomology #natureconservation #pond
#MacroShots #InsectMacro #Entomology #Bug #insectivore #dragonfly #bluedasher

Blue Dasher
No, really! The female (like this one) and juvenile blue dashers are yellow rather than blue. All Dashers spend most of their time perching- dashing is mainly used to intercept a potential insect meal.. #nature #naturephotography #natur #insekt #wildlife #wildlifephotography #naturfotografie #MacroPhotography #naturemacro #insect #insectphotography #entomology #natureconservation #pond
#MacroShots #InsectMacro #Entomology #Bug #insectivore #dragonfly #bluedasher

Bee's Reach
I think this is my first time seeing a bee stand in its hind legs to reach food. It reminded me more of a dog's pose than a bee's!
#bee #pollinators #clover #garden #nature #naturephotography #natur #insekt #wildlife #wildlifephotography #naturfotografie #MacroPhotography #naturemacro #insect #insectphotography #entomology
#MacroShots #InsectMacro #Entomology #Bug #InsectPhotography

#Wanze #Weichwanze #Wiesenwanze #Insektenfotografie #Makrofotografie #Naturfotografie #Artenvielfalt #Wiesennatur #Insektenvielfalt
#PlantBug #Miridae #TrueBug #InsectMacro #MacroPhotography #Biodiversity #NaturePhotography #InsectsOfInstagram #BugLife #GrasslandWildlife #HiddenNature #CamouflageMaster

Eine #Biene auf einer #Sonnenblume

#Wildbiene #Honigbiene #Makrofotografie #Makrozauber #Bestäuber #Insektenfotografie #Artenvielfalt #Naturwunder
#Bee #WildBee #Honeybee #MacroPhotography #InsectMacro #Pollinator #CloseUpNature #Biodiversity #NatureIsBeautiful #SaveTheBees

Symmetry 🪞

📷 Olympus OM-1
🔭 Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro
🎨 Edited with #darktable
🚫 No generative AI

#pixelfed #macrophotography #fediverse #photography #omsystem #olympus #macro #photo #macroverse #art #wildlife #wildlifephotography #hoverfly #flyfriday #fly #insect #insectphotography #insectmacro

Caught in the act 🔷

📷 Olympus OM-1
🔭 Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro
🎨 Edited with #darktable
🚫 No generative AI

#pixelfed #macrophotography #fediverse #photography #omsystem #olympus #macro #photo #macroverse #art #wildlife #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #insectmacro

In the Gaze of the Damselfly

#photography #canon

#macrophotography #damselfly #insectmacro #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #macroshot #macro_perfection #macro_magic #closeupnature #insectlovers #macronature #bugslife #macro_creature_feature #wildlife_macro #macroinsect #naturelovers #macrodetails #closeupshot #insect_perfection #entomologylove

Tiny Guardians of the Garden: 22-Spot Ladybirds in Arboretum Kalmthout

During a delightful visit to Arboretum Kalmthout with my son, an aspiring botanist, and a close friend I've mentored in photography, we encountered the charming 22-spot ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata), known in Dutch as the "citroenlieveheersbeestje." These petite beetles, measuring just 3–5 mm, are easily recognized by their bright yellow elytra adorned with 22 distinct black spots.

Unlike their aphid-eating relatives, these ladybirds have a unique diet: they feed on powdery mildew fungi, making them valuable allies in maintaining plant health.

Capturing them with my Canon 5D Mark III and the Canon MP-E 65mm 5x macro lens was a rewarding challenge. This lens lacks a focus ring, requiring me to adjust focus by moving the camera—and myself—closer or farther from the subject. With the ladybirds and their perch swaying in the breeze, patience and steady hands were essential.

I prefer to embrace these natural challenges rather than manipulate the scene. The result: two images—one at maximum zoom out and another at maximum zoom in—highlighting the intricate details of these beneficial insects.

#PsylloboraVigintiduopunctata #22SpotLadybird #Citroenlieveheersbeestje #MacroPhotography #Canon5DMarkIII #CanonMPE65mm #InsectPhotography #ArboretumKalmthout #BelgiumNature #MacroWorld #NaturePhotography #BeneficialInsects #GardenAllies #PowderyMildewEaters #TinyGuardians #InsectMacro #NatureLovers #MacroChallenge #WildlifePhotography #NaturalPestControl