Extreme macro photographs of red pepper flakes

Ever wonder what things look like up close.  I often see things like spices and wonder what they look like when magnified to an incredible size.  Today I used my Canon 5D Mark II and my Canon MP-E 65mm 2.8 1x-5x lens to take some 1x, 3x and 5x shots of red pepper flakes.  At 3x and 5x the flakes begin to look like beef jerky.

This is a 1x magnification of red pepper flakes.

1x view of red pepper flakes

3x view of red pepper flakes

5x view of red pepper flakes

Water Drop photographs

These are some water drop photographs I shot in 2012 or 2013.  most of he water drops were staged using a spray bottle or a ziplock with a hole.  The flowers were at Gussie park in Farmers Branch Texas just outside of Dallas.

I used a Canon Mark 5D II camera with a Canon MP-E 65mm 1x-5x macro lens.  This lens will capture extremely close shots.

These are some of my favorite water drop shots.  I have done quite a few.

Sackens Bee Hunter Photograph

This is a Sackens Bee Hunter.  I came across this insect by accident one day.  I thought it was a Bumble Bee at first but I quickly realized it was a bee mimic.  I took a few photographs and began my search on the internet.  I have never seen one of these and I have lived in the same house for 25 years.
It turns out I took photographs of a Sackens Bee Hunter.  These bee mimic will capture and eat other bees.  They blend in and using the same color patterns are Bumble Bees.  They are stripped yellow and black but are not as wide bodied as a Bumble Bee.  They also stand differently in a different posture.
I have not been able to get much information on the internet as these seem to be elusive and not very common.  I found some articles that state they can bite of sting and that it is quite painful.  They are not aggressive and would only sting you if captured or maybe stepped on.  These insect are very good at mimicking bees.  If I wasn’t trained to notice details on insects because of my fascination with macro photography I would have dismissed this Sacken’s Bee Hunter as just another bee.

Macro photograph of Wolf Spider

These are some macro photographs of a Wolf Spider on a white background.  Wolf Spiders are not aggressive and are mostly harmless.  They will bite if harassed but in general they can be held if you are gentle.  A bite will be painful but otherwise it wont cause death, sickness or permanent damage.

These photographs of a Wolf Spider were shot on a Canon 5D Mark II and a Sigma 180mm macro lens.  I used a Canon MT-24EX twin flash unit.

Baby in Monkey Outfit

My wife and I ordered some different knitted outfits for our new baby boy.  This one is a monkey outfit.  He wasn't happy when we started the photo shoot so I wasn't able to take the pictures I really wanted to.

We used a light blue blanket and a white sheet as backgrounds.  I used a Canon 5D Mark II camera and an Alien Bee 800 flash with a large octobox.

Tiger Salamander pictures

Tiger Salamanders are one of my favorite types of Salamanders.  I currently have one living in an aqaurium with my two baby Painted Turtles and my baby Softshell Turtle.  These are some Tiger Salamander Pictures that I have taken.

These Tiger Salamander pictures were taken on a Canon 5D Mark II camera with a Sigma 180mm lens.  I use a Canon MT-24EX twin flash unit.  My Tiger Salamander eat mainly insects I find in the yard as well as worms and store bought crickets and meal worms.  Here are some additional Tiger Salamander Pictures

Green Anole Lizard

These are some Green Anole macro photographs.  Green Anoles are common in the Southern United States.  These lizard can change color from light brown to bright green.  Green Anole hunt and eat insects.  These lizards are good at keeping pest away.  The lizards are shy and will attempt to run away.  If they are captured they will attempt to bite.  The bite is not serious but may draw blood.

These small lizards are native to the United States.  They can be found in the Eastern Texas to the East Coast.  Brown Anoles are invasive and were brought over by accident from Cuba.  Even though the Anole in these photographs is brown in color, it is a Green Anole that is currently in brown phase.

Texas Longhorns photographs

These are some photographs of Texas Longhorns.  I shot these with a Canon 5D Mark II camera.  The Longhorn cow is one of the Symbols of Texas.

Texas Longhorns

Dimorphic Jumping Spider - Maevia Inclemens

Dimorphic Jumping Spider - Maevia Inclemens 


These is a pretty jumping spider called a Dimorphic Jumping Spider.  I have only seen one of this species.  I took these macro photographs with a Canon 5d Mark II using a Canon MP-E 65mm lens.


Dimorphic Jumping Spider

Hammerhead flatworm

I found this Hammerhead flatworm on mother's day.  I have never seen of of heard of these things.  Hammerhead flatworms are not dangerous but they are pest and eat earth worms which are beneficial to your garden.

Hammerhead flatworm video

Tiger Salamander photographs

This is my Tiger Salamander.  I have two Tiger Salamanders.  I took these photographs using a Canon 5D Mark II camera and a Sigma 180mm lens.

http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35144

Mud turtle pictures

These are some pictures I took of a Mud turtle.  He is just a baby.  I took these pictures with my Canon 5D Mark II.

http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35143

Macro photographs of insect

This is a collection of the macro photographs and videos of insects I have taken over the last few years.  I took all of these photographs and videos with a Canon 5D Mark II camera body and a Canon MP-E 65mm 1x - 5x lens or a Sigma 180mm lens.  I also use a Canon MT-24EX twin flash unit.

http://www.squidoo.com/collection-of-insect-videos-and-photographs

Butterflies

These are some photographs of butterflies at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.  Each year they have a butterfly exhibit come into town.

http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35802

Tiny Red Mite

This is a set of macro photographs of a Tiny Red Mite.  I took these macro photographs with a Canon 5D Mark II and a Canon MP-E 65mm 1x-5x lens.  This Tiny Red Mite was about the size of a grain of salt.

http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35814

Orange and Black insects on Bluebonnets

These are some macro photographs or orange and black insects on bluebonnets.  I took these macro photographs with a Canon 5d Mark II and a Sigma 180mm lens.

http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35861

Mother Spider with hundreds of babies

I found this mother spider with egg sacks.  I waited two weeks until the eggs hatched.  Hundreds of babies could be seen around the eggs.  I took these macro photographs with a Canon 5D Mark II and a Canon MP-E 65mm 1x-5x lens.

http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35868

Unknown Red and Black Beetles

I found these ed and lack bug nymphs in my back yard.  They were in 5 clumps and each clump had hundreds of bugs.  I am not sure what species they are.


http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35947

Paper Wasp photographs

These are some Paper Wasp Photographs I have taken.  Paper Wasp make nest usually around houses in the corners of the house.  Paper Wasp will defend their nest if it is disturbed.  This macro photographs where shot with a Canon 5D Mark II and a Sigma 180mm lens.

http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35963

Alligator Snapping Turtle

These are some Alligator Snapping Turtle Pictures.  The Alligator Snapping Turtle is the Largest freshwater turtle in North America.  There is only one other freshwater turtle in the world that is similar in size to the Alligator Snapping Turtle and its the Chinese softshell.

http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=36031