Adventures after Dark
Because of advancing age and early injury that result in the slow breakdown of the body, I make compensations or compromises to go on doing what I most enjoy as far as practical application of my skills, character and predisposition are concerned.
So, in the cool of the night, rather than the heat of the day, I have been making the best of what I know of the wildlife hear-abouts – capturing them while they sleep or are otherwise less cognisant of me and my approach for a shot.
Since finding them and learning of their roosting and sleeping habits a few years ago bee’s have been my favourite creature to image, especially at the dawn or dusk when the temperature is best for taking some time for getting the composition right – for my taste – especially the now little seen Leaf-Cutter bee.
I am long past chasing them around during the day, though I do love to get shots of them foraging it is rare enough that you don’t see many, but time tells all – all that can be told in that time is enough. I don’t fret it is the point – not that I am Mr Peaceful either at times, human is more appropriate, with a spiritual (a word that conjures images of charlatans selling the all-cure snake oil on the street corner – for me) bent – and I know better, though the real thing appears rarely – whatever ‘real’ is.
I won’t go on too much now, or last too long maybe, so I will do what I can to bring you the beauty of the form, colour and function of our little cousins – before they too disappear from common, or any, awareness. Because the way things are going, business as usual or worse from our esteemed social leaders, it won’t be long before we, the people, wonder what happened to make the earth such a hostile and difficult place, when in fact and truth it is the world that is hostile – two completely separate realities extant in parallel.
Is it really a choice? Or an inevitability, as Man never really learns except by pain. Unfortunate, or just the fact of human nature? You have to start with the fact …
The earth will be ok in the end, as it was in the beginning. It doesn’t suffer, it only undergoes, and still is, regardless, irrepressible.
Mark Berkery ……. Don’t forget to CLICK on any picture to enlarge it in a new tab – best in FireFox – for me
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Nature's Place 
Beautiful pictures! I love everything about nature and all it inspires!
Yes June, it’s our own good nature.
Lovely shots, for me insects like this are exactly halfway between beautiful and horrifying,
The colors are stunning, but the wings are creepy.
I much prefer the average spider:)
Less wings!
Ha! You must be a Spider Man then … :)
8 legs are better than 6! :)
That bee looks really awesome
I am interested to see that they rest with their abdomens off or hanging down from the twig. Looks unrest-full to me! As to the planet, indeed it will be fine, One way or another it has been here before. What I do not understand is that humans do not seem to realise that they are the agents of their own destruction, along with so many other species.
That’s just the way they do it and it works, very strong jaws and a solid underside to support the weight – to a bee. Even when people do see it still has to be realised and that is a whole other matter for anyone pushing the envelope.
Beautiful pic’s. And yes early mornings is the best time to capture them as wel as rainy days but then you have to look for them under the leafs and bushes. Do you also try to identify them?
Thanks M. Some creatures under the leaves and bushes, and some bees, but I find them in an open field or the back yard sitting on flowers or gripping stems in their jaws.
You mean ‘religiously’ scientifically identify them? No, just for common names and behaviours. The science only seems to serve commerce first, then the creatures after the damage is done, maybe. Others do, I don’t see the point.
I’ve actually followed your post for a while now without actually clicking “follow” lol. I have now though. I just knew the domain. Brilliant pics. As the above person said “breathtaking”. In fact the whole nature idea and sharing posts & pictures of things most people have never seen, has also inspired my blog. Thanks mate.
Thanks Shammaar. It’s an easy one to remember. A little good passed around is a lot more penetrating than a little not so … Just got to keep an eye on the ball.
Just the most beautiful pictures of a humble little subject that does more for us than most people will ever realize. Just lovely, thank you :)
Thanks Mike. Sounds like you know the value of a bee … rather like a musical note, a pleasure and infinite – in a world of cause and effect …
Well said :)
Ha! :)
such a beautiful little sleeping creature thank you for taking the time to get to know them, where to find them capture their beauty and share with us as i read your post, i felt concern for your, is your health not good? or did i misunderstand?
i also get the part of the violence in our world….
i hope you are well.
Hello Tammie.The time spent is enjoyable. You only get old once and health can bob around like buoy on the water, no big deal. I am well enough, I just feel it catching up and it gets out now and then …
Thanks for dropping by …
Best … Mark
i love that ‘ you only get old once’ i suppose so. well enough, good to hear. so kind of you to respond.
wishing you a lovely day and beyond.
Ha! You can’t suppose such a thing when you know no other life? :)
Yes, well enough is good enough, for now – it’s all there is.
All the best. M
Your photographs are beautiful and I like the idea of you watching them as they settle down at night.
Thanks AFG. I watch them to learn their habits …
Any words other than “thank you” would probably become ramblings….thank you.
Thanks Audrey, just let it out? :)
These photos are amazing!! :)
Thanks Lin, no problem, corrected … :)
:)
What a beautiful bee end the colors are really fantastic.
Great pictures Mark.
Thanks Godfried, appreciated …
Wonderful images, Mark.
Thanks Mike …
Love the reflection in the eyes! Nice shot!!
Oh! It was nothing, or was that me … thanks Fran … :)
Mark, thank you for sharing your world with us. I love to take a moment out of my day to stand beside you in the land of insects. Have you ever photographed birds in such exquisite detail?
Hello Rick. No, Birding requires a different setup altogether – bigger, heavier, expensive. It can be done with my cam but not recommended for the keeper rate, especially in Oz where the birds are few though I had a family of Kookaburras sit for me once, here – https://beingmark.com/2011/07/22/
Wow!
Ha! :)
Nature teaches hard realities, often the learning experience is from hardship, death and violence runs close as does creation (sex) and renewal (living… growth). One captures a moment of this ongoing motion of all things in a state of becoming, the slow realisation that everything is in motion, in cycle, in a becoming. Great images.
Yes indeed, images … sometimes more significant than at others.
Nature is self reflection – of where I have been and what I will become after the need for violence …
Great shots, as usual. Are you photo stacking multiple images to produce both clarity and depth of field?
Thanks J. No, no stacking required with the right gear and technique. Lighting is the key to clarity, after the other basics – of course. It’s all laid out here – https://beingmark.com/macro-illustrated/
Lovely! I adore bees as well. Not sure if you’d be interested, but currently I’m reading a book called “The World Without Us” by Alan Weisman, in which he proposes what would happen to the earth if it were suddenly bereft of humans. An interesting read, and apparently well-researched.
Thanks Valerie. I can easily imagine a world without humans, that would be nature. But that idea is currently fantasy rather than fact. There has to be purpose to things or what’s the point, just to do what we do without esoteric value? I don’t think so. But I get your sentiment … :)
amazing !!!
Thanks Gwen …
Superb pictures Mark!
Thank you Chilli … :)
Great shots.
Thanks Lyle …
Adorable little bee! Breathtaking picture!
Indeed, you have to have a heart to see … :)