This is a creation. Panoramic composition of three 11 image focus stacks. 33 shots.
This shot was tricky. I wanted to create a macro panorama, which is not so hard with single shots, but I wanted to catch the moth sideways, so I needed focus stacking to achieve the depth of field it demanded. The final stitching was not perfect and had to repair it manually. Then I added a blurred background and the speed effect to get what I was trying to achieve, a macro shot of a flying Death's Head hawk moth. Considering I started this project with no previous experience, I am happy with the result.
My relationship with these moths was peculiar for some years. There used to be a bee-hive on my porch, like 8 ft above my door. We would come and go, My kids would play underneath for years and we never got stung. Bees would come in a swarm every May (two years in a row they came with a difference of a day in the calendar) and occupy it.
Death's Head hawk moths are extremely interesting creatures for whoever has the sensitivity to appreciate them. They have this skull on their backs, they screech when stressed, and they are honey thieves. These moths release hormones that make bees believe they are bees too, so they get into the hives and steal honey.
Because of this, every now and then I would find a moth walking on my terrace during daytime. That would mean this moth was close to the end of its life cycle. I would carefully catch it and leave it on a plant inside a totally darkened room for the rest of the day. That night I would leave the window open so it could leave. Those that recovered and left had a second chance. Those that didn't and died I preserved. I gave about 7 moths a second chance while this relationship lasted. I preserved three. This is one of them. I had to learn how to dry and display them and then I developed a system of my own. I do not use needles. I don't like pierced insects and I would never kill one for exposition.
Alas, this beautiful triangle ended two summers ago, when the attack of invader Asian wasps on the bee hive got to dangerous to keep it. I had been killing Asian wasps for years. they came alone, sometimes in pairs, maybe three at a time and that I could manage, but that summer we had two wasp hives not 100 yards from home and I could open my door to 10-20 wasps. Couldn't risk it anymore and had to have the bee hive removed. Got 5 pounds of delicious honey as a goodbye present. But, of course, the moths did never return.
WestonWestmoreland on April 12nd, 2022 at 10:27 UTC »
This is a creation. Panoramic composition of three 11 image focus stacks. 33 shots.
This shot was tricky. I wanted to create a macro panorama, which is not so hard with single shots, but I wanted to catch the moth sideways, so I needed focus stacking to achieve the depth of field it demanded. The final stitching was not perfect and had to repair it manually. Then I added a blurred background and the speed effect to get what I was trying to achieve, a macro shot of a flying Death's Head hawk moth. Considering I started this project with no previous experience, I am happy with the result.
My relationship with these moths was peculiar for some years. There used to be a bee-hive on my porch, like 8 ft above my door. We would come and go, My kids would play underneath for years and we never got stung. Bees would come in a swarm every May (two years in a row they came with a difference of a day in the calendar) and occupy it.
Death's Head hawk moths are extremely interesting creatures for whoever has the sensitivity to appreciate them. They have this skull on their backs, they screech when stressed, and they are honey thieves. These moths release hormones that make bees believe they are bees too, so they get into the hives and steal honey.
Because of this, every now and then I would find a moth walking on my terrace during daytime. That would mean this moth was close to the end of its life cycle. I would carefully catch it and leave it on a plant inside a totally darkened room for the rest of the day. That night I would leave the window open so it could leave. Those that recovered and left had a second chance. Those that didn't and died I preserved. I gave about 7 moths a second chance while this relationship lasted. I preserved three. This is one of them. I had to learn how to dry and display them and then I developed a system of my own. I do not use needles. I don't like pierced insects and I would never kill one for exposition.
Alas, this beautiful triangle ended two summers ago, when the attack of invader Asian wasps on the bee hive got to dangerous to keep it. I had been killing Asian wasps for years. they came alone, sometimes in pairs, maybe three at a time and that I could manage, but that summer we had two wasp hives not 100 yards from home and I could open my door to 10-20 wasps. Couldn't risk it anymore and had to have the bee hive removed. Got 5 pounds of delicious honey as a goodbye present. But, of course, the moths did never return.
dreck_disp on April 12nd, 2022 at 15:57 UTC »
"Somebody grew this guy, fed him honey and nightshade, kept him warm. Somebody loved him."