The Kill
A lot of Gecko’s live in this old wooden two storey Queenslander. I often see them at the outside light at night and as soon as they see me they run and hide. They will attack and eat anything that flutters on a window or under the light and run and hide from anything bigger than they are – sound survival tactic, usually.
This young Gecko was stationary as I passed and stopped to look. Moments later it was scuttling across the wall towards a corner it could disappear behind. I usually just watch them go but this time I thought I’d see if I could catch one to get a better look.
I was reaching out to cup it in one hand before it disappeared around the corner of the wall when a huge, four inch leg span, Huntsman came around that same corner at lightning speed and snatched the Gecko’s life with a single bite.
The blink of an eye and it was almost over for the Gecko. The Huntsman was taking no chance of losing its catch, holding on tight and then biting closer to the head before silently slinking away with its meal, glistening venom cascading over one of its prey’s eyes.
They had never heard of Christmas. Or …. ?
Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture and click again to enlarge
Neon Blue Delight
It was late afternoon on a very wet Macro Day when I noticed this tiny creature, about 5mm long, in the open downstairs bathroom trying to find a way out through the glass window.
To the eye this creature looked dark, with just a hint of blue with the light at the right angle and if seen with care. I often trap creatures I find downstairs, give them a feed and let them go – usually after a few shots if it can be managed. And I don’t release a creature into the night if it would usually be asleep in the dark.
So this one spent the night trapped in a jar with a rose leaf and a little honey. It sleeps with its head down and antennae wrapped under it. In the morning I took a few shots before and as it woke up. In fact it only really woke when I breathed a warm breath on it a few times.
Very quickly it came awake and started twitching those tiny antennae and wandering about and under the leaf. I gave it my finger to climb on and to warm up, which it did. And a few seconds later it took to the air, off to god knows where. To do its ordinary everyday business.
Wonderful little thing. Delightful, to me, little Emerald Cuckoo Wasp.
Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture and click again to enlarge
Macro Day Two
Thanks to all for coming, to both Macro Day One and Macro Day Two – forum. And well done, it’s good to see people engaging in the process. I enjoy it, and as long as I do I’ll go on doing it, as long as someone wants to do it.
Today my highlight, what sticks out, is the fact every body and situation is unique and requires a creative fluid response rather than a fixed predetermined one. We just had two hot sunny days but I had a sense it wouldn’t be so for the Macro Day meeting, just a sense. Sitting in the afternoon I could hear the thunder and see the dark clouds in the distance and there was a chance they wouldn’t come my way. No such luck, it poured down from about 3.00pm. But everybody came and I was in luck and prepared.
The light I leave on at night to attract the bugs had a few visitors over the last two days that didn’t leave, so I employed them for the duration, four Beetles and one Cicada – and fed them before letting them go. Around the table then, and with some natural back-ground material, we had the opportunity to focus on relaxation for a time, then on shooting angles, composure, back-grounds and lighting – shooting some of nature’s ‘given’ wonderful creatures.
The creative state is a matter that is central to what we do on our Macro days – would serve well if central to living. The difference between an acceptable shot and a good one, given the know-how, is the state or condition of mind of the shooter. Everything rests on how I, the shooter, am inside. If I have a plan and insist on seeing it through in the face of changing circumstances I am going to get frustrated and frustration begets more of itself. Or if I have some thoughtful or emotional movement going on I’m not going to be fully present to give my best effort, best focus. This, basically, is why I employ relaxation and meditation – so I can easily relax my grip on any plan, thinking or emotional condition and maintain myself in a state of readiness free of preconceptions – present to respond to the new – free to see afresh and focus properly. It’s practical, it makes sense.
Two common impediments, conditions of mind, to individual creativity are these : I’m not very creat… Or : I can’t … When the truth is I can give these up and allow for the possibility for the creativity to flower in – it just takes time.
It’s that simple, but requires practise for the benefits to be fully realised. In my experience relaxation and meditation is foundational and the quickest way through to realising my creative potential.
And I’m ‘talking’ from my own experience …
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A few links of interest to anyone coming on a Macro Meditation Day – Whether the Weather – Macro Illustrated – Meditate
Read them if you want a head start on what I do. Also, my blog Nature’s Place has the latest fifteen posts on the front page and there is always something new – I recommend subscribing if you are interested in what I do – top right of the front page of My Blog.
All other posts are accessible from the Titles page, warts ‘n all. ((:
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Ok. A few shots from me from Macro Day Two – see forum – and I trust from a few others as they are ready. I didn’t take many shots this day but may post a few later anyway.
Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture and click again to enlarge
Elemental Me
After clearing the flower bed of its ten year overgrowth of trees and bushes I have been visiting it more, there is more to see. Today I saw an orangeness wandering about the stone edging and got the camera in case I got the chance at a shot.
As I came back the orangeness had mounted a stick with one end in the air, about two inches off the ground that gave me a complimentary background to a wonderful creature. She stood there as if looking at her new world from on high, a warrior’s stance, an untroubled character. A majesty of being.
There was time enough for a few shots before she was about her new life’s business, her wings just filled out. And she was gone, into the great unknown. To be as her instinct, unfolding to event arising, intelligence evolved.
That’s nature, a window in sense to the romance of the ages.
What a shame, the constraints of emotional being.
Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture and click again to enlarge
Prince of Light
Out of the winter, all furred up, lighting the way of his kind.
Sword and sinew aready, face to the black, work of a season behind.
Out of the darkness, a climbing of heights, glittering sky of his mind.
Into the summer, the plans of the deep, conferring a making to bind.
Raised on Ambrosia, a pain to the Gods, he is the first of his kind.
The season anew, the flight true and through, the Grail it is his to find.
Soar up little one, beloved of mine, ride the mystical wynde.
When battle is done, and death comes to tease, ‘tis a kiss to a warriors rind.
Oops! ‘Tis a female after all, I didn’t know, and I don’t mind. ((:
Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture and click again to enlarge
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