Creatures Of Night
Perched on a stick left out for the purpose. A lacewing takes portrait position.
*Click on the pictures, in this case bigger is better …
Furry fellow, frantic feeder … Anticipating position, speed is key to capture an image of this hyper active moth.
Salt and pepper moth, but not for eating … except by spiders maybe.
Monk beetle, because it has that hooded look. Wedge beetle, shy little thing.
What big eyes … all the better to see in the dark … On my finger.
A fermenting but still useful orange I staked in the garden attracted this big moth, about 3 inches long.
The proboscis is actually piercing the orange peel. When she finished I’m sure she was drunk, the way she blundered about.
Owl Fly, debris of an old butterfly meal evident. Picture of a rose in background to hide the clutter of branches.
They are predators, big 360′ eyes, hunting the same as a dragonfly. Just not as aerobatic.
Huntsman, prowling food debris in the garden pile – one of them.
A different one, front right leg is intact. Sitting for a shot. Amazingly, they can grow new legs.
Hawk moth? Attracted to the light that had a stick beneath it for the purpose. Provide and they come … sometimes.
Don’t and they surely won’t. Hawk moth and friend at rest, a hopper of some kind perhaps …
An occasional visitor to the same light. The only way to see some creatures is attract them.
Nature’s design … my nature. Thank you for your attention.
You have to go down the garden at night to see these creatures of the dark. You won’t know them otherwise.
Go quietly, disturbing as little as possible on the way, lest they take fright and disappear into the night.
The least disturbance can be enough that they are away, never to be seen again without aid.
And when they are done they are gone, time’s up. Gotta make the most of it or …
When you get close enough, never mind the mozzies, little beauties all.
© Mark Berkery ……. Click on those pictures for a closer look
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Nature's Place 
dreamland!
Exquisite as always. Thank you for sharing your gift and treasures. My 6 year old grandson is in love with your images.
Thanks Audrey. Kids know the treasure they are, if they haven’t had fear (of nature) put into them.
Really fantastic shots Mark. Are you using flash or just the light used to attract the moth? Either way it’s amazing control of the lighting.
Thanks David. Always using flash, makes for sharper images.
Superb work Mark, as usual!
Thanks Jacques.
stunning macros
Thanks Hillechien.
Mark, I swear these are million dollar shots! Wow!
Thanks Lisa.
Awesome photos. I love seeing how fuzzy they are!!
Thanks CT…
Wow…what kind of equipment do you use? These are so sharp.
It’s all, more or less, here – https://beingmark.com/macro-illustrated/
Sharpening and noise reduction is done separately.
Oh my God, Mark! These are exquisite! And your words are perfect. I have just spent a WONDER-full 30 minutes here, looking at these enlarged. I’m blown away. Thank you for this! It is such a gift.
Peace
Mary
Thanks Mary. They are better bigger.
I am a foreigner to the English language, yet I have not read such a nice English poem for a long time.
Mark, just one word. Or two, really. THANK YOU.
Milan Koštek
Slovakia
Thanks Milan.