Potter Wasp – the Nomad’s Neighbour

Posted in Being, Biodiversity, Colour, Death, Ecology, Environment, God, Human Nature, Insects, Inspiration, Life, Love, Macro Photography, Magical Nature, Meditation, Mystic, Nature, Negation, Nomad, Photography, Relaxation, Solitary, Spiritual Nature, Spirituality, Sustainability, Truth?, Wild Life by Mark on 19/06/2011

In the field of bees there are a few wasps that sleep at nights. Called Potters, because they make wonderful nest structures from mud. They usually roost in solitude in the long grass but occasionally can be found in twos or threes, and rarely next to a Nomad.

Like most creatures they are easily intruded upon but I have also found them to be gentle by nature, disinclined to aggression. Content to climb on a warm finger on a cold and wet morning.

They are also beautiful to look at with their wonderful colouring and strangely elegant form.

One of nature’s pleasures, to me. Living art.

Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture and click again to enlarge

102 comments

102 Responses

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My Absolute Dreams said, on 31/07/2011 at 11:50 pm

realy beautiful pics….hw did u manage such close ups???….admirable!!!!

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- Mark said, on 01/08/2011 at 12:00 am
  
  Thanks Krishnaveni. It takes knowhow and practise, see here : Macro Illustrated
  
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gmom said, on 17/07/2011 at 9:55 pm

God is pretty freaking creative. Awesome!

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- Mark said, on 18/07/2011 at 2:26 pm
  
  Thanks Judy. Amazing nature …
  
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DanEastSided said, on 13/07/2011 at 6:59 am

Great pics, congrats :)

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- Mark said, on 18/07/2011 at 2:25 pm
  
  Thanks Dan.
  
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maynature said, on 12/07/2011 at 11:09 pm

Awesome pictures with great detail and angles! Congratulations and thanks for sharing!!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:27 am
  
  Thank you Mohanay.
  
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Vasare said, on 12/07/2011 at 9:18 pm

well these shots are just amazing! very inspired, what lens did you use?

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 12:30 am
  
  Have a look here for the gear : https://beingmark.com/macro-illustrated/
  
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cess said, on 12/07/2011 at 7:19 pm

Beautiful shots! I’ve never seen an insect look this beautiful up close.

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 9:09 pm
  
  Thanks Cess.
  
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leadinglight said, on 12/07/2011 at 6:24 pm

The minute use of detail is stunning!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:45 am
  
  It is indeed, wonderful nature.
  
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rf401 said, on 12/07/2011 at 6:24 pm

These images are awesome, great detail and colour.
Congrats on freshly pressed as well.

Rob

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:45 am
  
  Thanks Rob.
  
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anipics said, on 12/07/2011 at 5:43 pm

wow … wunderful :)

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:50 am
  
  Thanks Ani, you changed your blog and I can’t remember … ((:
  
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iniyaal said, on 12/07/2011 at 4:54 pm

Beautiful photography. She certainly looks elegant!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:49 am
  
  Thanks Iniyaal. She certainly is …
  
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iniyaal said, on 12/07/2011 at 4:49 pm

Beautiful photography.. Yes, she does look elegant, though not in the usual way we are used to.

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:09 am
  
  That’s the beauty of nature, unexpected …
  
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kesziah said, on 12/07/2011 at 4:46 pm

great !!! it so beatiful……… nice !

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:11 am
  
  Thanks Kes.
  
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niasunset said, on 12/07/2011 at 4:44 pm

WOW! These are amazing macro photographs. Thank you and Congratulations on being Freshley Pressed.
I am glad to meet with you and with your photography. Greetings and Love, nia

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:12 am
  
  Thank you Nia, appreciated.
  
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rachelci said, on 12/07/2011 at 3:59 pm

Stunning photography. Looks like s/he might be taking a drink of water in the next-to-last shot? Have you got any photos of their little earthenware jugs?

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:14 am
  
  Thanks Rachel. That’s honey, always have a little to pay my way. No nests though.
  
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Potter Wasp – the Nomad’s Neighbour (via Nature's Place) « one petal at a time: one writer's journey said, on 12/07/2011 at 2:17 pm

[…] The experiences this man has with nature are astounding. To come that close to creatures that are constantly on the move is a chance very few will ever have. Amazing photography! In the field of bees there are a few wasps that sleep at nights. Called Potters, because they make wonderful nest structures from mud. They usually roost in solitude in the long grass but occasionally can be found in twos or threes, and rarely next to a Nomad. Like most creatures they are easily intruded upon but I have also found them to be gentle by nature, disinclined to aggression. Content to climb on a warm finger on a cold and wet morning. … Read More […]

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:15 am
  
  Thanks Tracy, much appreciated.
  
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smogprod said, on 12/07/2011 at 1:23 pm

I normally don’t like stinging creatures, but these photos are so well done I want to give him a hug!!! I think avoiding the stinger in a full on bear hug might be a tad difficult though. Beautiful Macro shots.

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:51 am
  
  Hugs accepted here : https://beingmark.com/2011/07/03/rescue-rescue/ ((:
  
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TL said, on 12/07/2011 at 12:24 pm

Although I am really afraid of wasps, these are great pictures, Mark. :)

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:53 am
  
  No fear allowed, wasps love you. ((:
  
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Ashok Mani said, on 12/07/2011 at 10:43 am

Very good macro shots..!!!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:59 am
  
  Thank you Ashok Mani.
  
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My Camera, My Friend said, on 12/07/2011 at 9:47 am

Great photos. You certaintly have a unique view of the wasp.

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:00 am
  
  Thank you my friend. ((:
  
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newfoundimage said, on 12/07/2011 at 8:26 am

PS: Awesome by the way! AND Congrats on Freshly Pressed!!!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:24 am
  
  Thanks, BTW. ((:
  
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newfoundimage said, on 12/07/2011 at 8:25 am

Wondering how you got so much of the wasp in focus? What kind of lens did you use also?

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 8:48 am
  
  Using an Oly 50/f2 on a Panny G1 at .5x (thereabouts). Everything in focus is in the field of acceptable focus, it’s a matter of aligning myself with cam to do that, and placing for optimal use of dof. The bonus was the wasps tail was leaning towards me at the time.
  
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Thomas said, on 12/07/2011 at 7:29 am

Great photos…and I have some idea how hard macro pics are to take well. A couple years ago I found several dragonflies and they were different colors. I tried to get pics but they never sat still long enough for me to snap even one clear picture.

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:25 am
  
  Thanks Thomas. It does take practise, for sure …
  
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Eva McCane said, on 12/07/2011 at 7:21 am

fantastic photographs! like something out of national geographic. thanks for sharing!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:26 am
  
  Thank you Eva, much appreciated.
  
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300hikes said, on 12/07/2011 at 7:18 am

I love love love these pictures.

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:31 am
  
  Thanks 3H, appreciated.
  
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Leena Yasgi said, on 12/07/2011 at 6:11 am

so nice

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:32 am
  
  Hi Leena.
  
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ccoorrppuuss said, on 12/07/2011 at 6:02 am

these shots are so beautiful, good work!
actually this is not a wasp, it’s a sceliphron – a kind of cousin of the wasps. it’s quite difficult to be stung by this, and it doesn’t hurt anyway.

really, wonderful shots!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:34 am
  
  Thanks CC….. Never knew that, but if it looks like a ……… It must be a …. ((:
  
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Calogero Mira said, on 12/07/2011 at 5:49 am

Was it very difficult to take these photos?

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:34 am
  
  Not very difficult, but I have some experience that makes the difference.
  
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bercton said, on 12/07/2011 at 5:47 am

Great photos! Very striking indeed!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 1:37 am
  
  Thank you Bercton. Great DI on yours.
  
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Kristen said, on 12/07/2011 at 4:54 am

I’ll be honest – all types of bees/wasps/hornets scare me, but I can’t help to look at them in pictures (or on the other side of a window). They’re so fascinating!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:19 am
  
  They love you Kristen, don’t doubt it, and don’t be scared anymore, just say hello. ((:
  
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Boodoomoo said, on 12/07/2011 at 4:49 am

Amazing pictures! I will always be a little terrified of anything with a stinger, but these pictures do capture a softer side. Congrats on being FP!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:20 am
  
  They love you too Boo, don’t doubt it, just say hello next time you see one. ((:
  
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Niko said, on 12/07/2011 at 4:22 am

really really nice pictures! Had you thought about uploading your pictures to http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ ? It would be nice to see them on wikipedia!

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:21 am
  
  Thanks Niko. I already do enough on the computer. ((:
  
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Mr. Boab said, on 12/07/2011 at 4:21 am

I didn’t know that these animals are so tolerant of humans. They look really good too

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:22 am
  
  Thanks. Not so of ‘humans’, but of beings, yes. ((:
  
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Panfile Petroschi Bianca said, on 12/07/2011 at 4:06 am

excellent work,keep up that way !

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:23 am
  
  Thank you Bianca.
  
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Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide said, on 12/07/2011 at 3:22 am

They are beautiful, but I like this perspective better than being up close. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed.

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:23 am
  
  Thanks Rufus.
  
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thecastrovas said, on 12/07/2011 at 3:15 am

congrats on freshly pressed! I saw one of these in my living room the other day and squashed it! Hmmm i should have taken a closer look they are awesome. thanks for sharing

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- Mark said, on 13/07/2011 at 2:24 am
  
  Well now you have to hug the next one you see. ((:
  
  See here : https://beingmark.com/2011/07/03/rescue-rescue/
  
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Kim said, on 12/07/2011 at 3:14 am

Awesome pictures, Mark. And congrats on being Freshly Pressed!

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 10:14 am
  
  Thanks Kim. Nature is my cradle, a place of rest and peace …
  
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dogear6 said, on 12/07/2011 at 3:11 am

I never realized there were so many types of wasps until I read Bern Heinrich’s book about his father’s quest to catalog them. The book was very good – your photo is excellent.

Nancy

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 10:11 am
  
  Thanks Nancy, much appreciated. Will probably get the book, they did it different in the old days …
  
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cravesadventure said, on 12/07/2011 at 2:25 am

Beautiful pics of a creature that scares me slightly – allergic to stings so try to leave them in peace to do their business and hopefully they show the same respect to me. I have never been stung working in my yard around bees and wasps because I respect them and know they have a place in my yard because I plant shrubs, flowers and veggies that they like. So colorful. Thanks for sharing and Congrats on being FP!

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 9:58 am
  
  They usually do, leave the respectful in peace. It’s the panicky that get stung – not always. Nice to hear you feed them too, sweet things. Sweet girl.
  
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ournote2self said, on 12/07/2011 at 1:58 am

Your pictures are stunning. I agree, it truly is living art.

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 9:49 am
  
  Thanks Christy and Charity. Always break the paper at the roll before standing. ((:
  
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barefoot_med_student said, on 12/07/2011 at 1:43 am

Wow, this is just breathtaking. It reminds me of a picture of a tiny crab spider my uncle once took.

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 9:41 am
  
  Thanks Mara, body politics. Your uncle was ahead of his time, to appreciate the beauty of a spider.
  
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Albertus Gorman said, on 12/07/2011 at 1:36 am

Thanks for the wonderful images of this beautiful insect!

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 9:38 am
  
  Thanks playful Albertus from Ohio.
  
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aubélia said, on 12/07/2011 at 1:02 am

Excellent work !

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 9:33 am
  
  Thanks Aubélia
  
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jessicaber said, on 12/07/2011 at 12:54 am

OMG! How did you get these pictures?

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- Mark said, on 12/07/2011 at 9:29 am
  
  Well, I stood in a field and waited until a wasp came and landed next to me … ((:
  
  It’s early morning and relatively cold so the wasp is not awake yet, they roost like that in the long grass. The sun is just coming up so I have a short while to get it right, as seen from the last shot where she is on the move.
  
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Lunar Euphoria said, on 02/07/2011 at 9:22 am

I had a wasp light on my knee just a few days ago. I jumped up and we began an intricate dance to get him safely outside. Only later did I realize I’d been stung! Not hurty, just itchy.

Great pics as always.

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- Mark said, on 02/07/2011 at 11:03 am
  
  Thanks LE. They do that sometimes. Maybe if you had just sat still it would have flown away again?
  
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  - Lunar Euphoria said, on 07/07/2011 at 1:15 am
    
    Probably! But I haven’t developed my yogi powers to THAT extent yet!
    
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    - Mark said, on 07/07/2011 at 1:49 am
      
      ((: Have a look here : https://beingmark.com/2011/07/03/rescue-rescue/
      
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Sara Stensland said, on 28/06/2011 at 8:04 am

Wonderful photographs!

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- Mark said, on 02/07/2011 at 10:58 am
  
  Thanks Sara.
  
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Rifqi said, on 22/06/2011 at 6:05 pm

Great shots, perfect focus and good job on the backgrounds. Are these shot at 1:1?

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- Mark said, on 23/06/2011 at 3:43 am
  
  Thanks Rifqi. These would be about 1:2, it’s an inch long wasp, just over.
  
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Steve Schwartzman said, on 20/06/2011 at 1:52 am

Excellent closeups: I know how hard it is to do this as well as you did.

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- Mark said, on 23/06/2011 at 3:41 am
  
  Thanks Steve. Practise, practise ….
  
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James Niland said, on 19/06/2011 at 11:45 pm

What a beautiful wasp and awesome shots, Mark.

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- Mark said, on 23/06/2011 at 3:40 am
  
  Thanks James. It is a beauty all right.
  
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jamyun micheal said, on 19/06/2011 at 11:32 pm

your work is great

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- Mark said, on 23/06/2011 at 3:40 am
  
  Thanks Jamyun. How’s yours coming along?
  
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letempspasse said, on 19/06/2011 at 10:42 pm

Wow ! What incredible pictures !
Living work of Art indeed.
Have a lovely day !

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- Mark said, on 23/06/2011 at 3:39 am
  
  Thanks ?.
  
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