pyrgotidae fly

Michael Durham · Post by **Michael Durham** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:44 pm

Fascinating life history of this parasitic fly. They will chase down and implant an egg in a june beetle, while in flight.

Photographed at 1/50,000th of a second while flying.

42 image stack portrait.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:04 pm

Awesome work!

I don't suppose you happen to have links to larger versions of these? "(Huh, huh, pretty please??)''

--Rik

Michael Durham · Post by **Michael Durham** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:21 pm

Larger files

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/338 ... 33c5_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/338 ... 30c0_o.jpg

I would post larger, but they would violate the posting guidelines.

MD

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:39 pm

Many thanks -- the images look even better bigger!

You're right about the posting guidelines. We set those so that most people can see most images in their entirety without awkward scrolling. It's one of the tradeoffs involved in supporting a diverse community.

Getting back to the images and subjects shown here...

Can you share some more info about what was involved in catching that parasite in flight? Was that a wild subject? How did you know when and where it was going to be, to set up for it?

--Rik

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:02 am

Pretty neat! How did you capture the first one? Light beam trigger?

Michael Durham · Post by **Michael Durham** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:59 am

The first shot was taken with a laser trigger, custom built shutter, high-speed flash, etc

The technique for flight varies from subject to subject, but it has taken years of refinement to get to where I am with the gear and technique. Nonetheless, it can take some time to figure out how t coax an insect into flying through a narrow target area.

I just spent three days on tiger beetles. The little devils were ready fliers, but they refused to do so after setting up the gear. On day three, I finally figured out how to get them into the air. It really is a new challenge every time.

Aynia · Post by **Aynia** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:25 am

Michael, love all your photos (which I came across a couple of years ago while looking for tips about photographing bats!!).

What's your camera -for the fly- and what is the custom made shutter?

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:30 am

Michael Durham wrote:I just spent three days on tiger beetles. The little devils were ready fliers, but they refused to do so after setting up the gear.

Just as adult ladybird beetles won't eat aphids in front of a camera.

Harold

lauriek · Post by **lauriek** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:56 am

Wow!

How on earth do you get enough light onto the subject in 1/50000th of a second? (It occurs to me that with enough flashes to do that, perhaps that's how you caught the subject to stack it, it was stunned by the flash!?)

That in flight shot is /wonderful/! Stunning technique... In comparison I'd say the lighting (or possibly PP) is a little harsh on the stack but still a great shot!

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:57 pm

Jaw dropping work Michael - hope to read more about equipment and technique.

Bruce

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:30 pm

Hallo Michael,

your photographs are fascinating! The fly make me think on an other planet - mars o elswhere?)

Franz

Michael Durham · Post by **Michael Durham** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:05 am

The high-speed technique is complex and requires lots of gear (not unlike micro work!). I'm currently shooting in Texas, and had to ship 400 lb of gear in advance for shooting.

Most of what I learned, I picked up from reading Stephen Dalton's early books. Specifically "Borne On The Wind" and "Caught In Motion: High-Speed Nature Photography". Little did I realize how challenging it would be on so many levels.

It has been worth it however, because the results are often fascinating.

In answer to earlier questions: The high-speed shutter was built by Unilblitz in Rochester, NY. The flash units are completely custom, and I built them in my workshop with the generous help of Max Harleson, an engineer from Intel. The special laser was built by Bill Forbes at www.Phototrap.com.

The equipment is about 1/8th the whole story, and the rest requires a variety of skills from networking with researchers and scientists, to figuring out how to convince a bee to fly through a relatively tiny focal point.

A book would be required to explain it all (hint, hint: See Stephen Dalton above)

MD

Michael Durham · Post by **Michael Durham** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:07 am

lauriek wrote:That in flight shot is /wonderful/! Stunning technique... In comparison I'd say the lighting (or possibly PP) is a little harsh on the stack but still a great shot!

Thanks Laurie. I agree with you about the stack - I'm still learning how to light at this small scale.

MD

MisterMcCruff · Post by **MisterMcCruff** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:12 am

That first image is absolutely breathtaking.
Wonderful work on your websites.