If you're thinking I'm sitting here all smug about that title you're bang on!! It's making me very happy but if there's a 'book' theme next week I might be slightly traumatised....
I took Monty down the towpath today for a change of scene - the river was packed with new rowers all making a dog's dinner of things - great fun - it took me right back!
I was studying an old rotting willow tree as it had great textures going on when I noticed two or three enormous hornets buzzing around, but they didn't keep still for me. Then I realised there was a nest in a crevice further around the tree. This was a total nightmare to photograph as I had my zoom lens on so the DOF was very shallow, it was a dark place so the shutter speed was slow and I had a dog getting fidgety on his lead. But rather than get too close and risk either of us annoying them I just kept clicking and hoping something would be in focus. I must say that they were very beautiful and not showing any signs of aggression - they were just busy getting ready to hibernate I presume.
PS They are about 2cm/1" long.
Ah fantastic - look at their little heads and eyes. I love hornets - having had a hornets' nest in the tree next to our alfresco dining table in Italy last year - we found them to be very unaggressive and perfect neighbours!
great shot, amazing details - when I was flying bats last year we'd have hornets arrive down the moth trap and have to catch them in jars for later re-release - the only dodgy bit was releasing them at the end.
You're a brave girl to click hornets (love your title :))!! I think it's a great photo! And I always love to read your stories that are behind your pics!
this is an awesome shot Judith - probably a good job you had the zoom or you would've been tempted to move in closer!!! love the comments about dog's dinner rowers!!
Wow great title , you're bang on there !!! Wonderful capture here taken under what sounds like great difficulty !! Interesting story...do Hornets hibernate or just die off I wonder ?
It does stink when you have on the zoom and you need to shoot something like this but you got a good shot! amazing shot actually and the title is sensational too!
Just catching up and found this. Oh so clever title Judith! and a superb shot. Did you see the feature on autumn watch? Their nests are a work of art, aren't they? Well found and great picture.
@happypat I finally read up on hornets - apparently they breed at this time of year and then only the fertilised queens survive the winter. Quite sad really - they are fine beasts - but one sting releases a pheromone which makes the whole lot attack, and they can sting multiple times a lot worse than wasps - feeling better about that long lens now!
October 15th, 2011
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