Stratiomys sp.

Scratch my back  (Stratiomys sp.; family: Stratiomyidae; common name: Soldier fly)

Taking close up pictures means working with small animals or flowers which sometimes surprise you with what they do, which usually passes unnoticed in our world. This fly, which looks like a bee, was sitting on some straws when it started to make some moves as if it was scratching its back – the human equivalent. We think it was just cleaning its wings but we may be wrong. Anyway, despite the fact the Tamron is not a quick focusing lens, the fly spent some time there - without getting worried about our presence – which allowed us to take the pictures we wanted.

Photos by Marina Parha and George J. Reclos
 
Shooting Data:

1. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180 mm f/3.5 SP Di macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/11, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL mode
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, saved as JPEG and resized. 

2. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180 mm f/3.5 SP Di macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/400 sec - f/11, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL/FP mode
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, saved as JPEG and resized.

3. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180 mm f/3.5 SP Di macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/320 sec - f/11, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL/FP mode
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, saved as JPEG and resized.

4. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180 mm f/3.5 SP Di macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/400 sec - f/11, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL/FP mode
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, saved as JPEG and resized.