This Is My Happy Face!

No? He doesn't look happy to you? XD

Not sure if you remember the cotton stainer bug: http://365project.org/myautofocuslife/365/2012-05-13

I met him again at the mangrove forest and he's found a soulmate to mate with. I feel happy for him! Although I did get a from-the-top, no-nonsense, no-frills shot of this happy occasion, I thought I'd try being a little experimental and make a shot from a more, um, intimate point of view. This is as romantic as it gets for insect mating photos, I think, there is dreamy bokeh after all! 8D

(I know, I know, it sounds like I've made one too many macro shots and I've lost my mind! That would be true... if I hadn't already lost my mind a long, long, long time ago. 8P )

[Steven Galvin]

Nice and sharp around the head area. Excellent POV

[Kerri]

Fantastic focus

[Jen Hudson]

Attractive detail on his back. Amazing for "just a bug". Nice bokeh and great close up as always.

[Glendq]

macro is exciting, right.
i love it.

[tony gig]

Lovely nature shot and find Livia.

[Mags]

What a great find! That is such a cool bug, Livia! Fantastic details and patterns!

[MaryBeth Dailey]

Fav! Those of us who shoot bug macros...we get a little "imaginative" with our story lines/descriptions, no? I think it's fun! This is a wonderfully composed "boudoir" shot. haha

[tony j sisti]

Pretty neat macro,if he had a few more x,s on his back, one could play tic tac toe......nice find!

[Roberta Clark Chalmers]

Super capture! Great focus on these love bugs.

[Beau]

Sexy...for the cotton stainer bugs of course. :P
Great capture. Awesome dof, lighting and composition. Like the dreamy bokeh too. Mood lighting. Just need some Barry White playing in the background.

[Mike Gifford]

Now this is an interesting design!

[Joseph Donnelly]

Amazing looking creature, never seen anything like that before.

[ladyjane]

Cool looking bugs - I love the pattern on their backs.

[Linda]

Never saw these kind of bugs before except in your photos! Good close up shot.

[Mick]

Romance in the bug world! The dof keeps it discreet and romantic Livia, very considerate of you! :)

[Cathy]

Cheek to cheek!

[Krissy]

He's so awesome looking. I'd be his friend for sure.

[Stacey]

That is one crazy looking bug! Great shot of it.

[Martin]

Intersting pattern on the bug, a clever macro

[Ann Stenson]

Another awesome capture Livia!.....love your focus! : )

[Geertje K.]

Lol! I'm not sure about the face, but he sure has his party-clothes on!

[Pyrrhula]

???????????? are this two bugs glue together? Never seen one like this.
Great micro ( Like all you bug pic `s) and great info ( like you always do )

[Kitti Nelson]

Macro Cotton Stainer bug porn! I am awed - and embarrassed to admit I wouldn't even have noticed them! Great shot - love the bokeh - that always adds to the romance of the capture. Well done

[Lisa Pouncy]

Well, until I read the commentary I thought it was a single bug!! Great shot as usual ;o) xx

[eva]

Lovely shot!

[Nikki]

You are so funny.. Lost your mind. Great focus..

[Teri]

Great macro...bug design...it's amazing where us humans come up with the design we create...nature, naturally!

[Yvonne]

What an interesting looking bug. Love all the detail.

[Louie]

Lovely focus point Livia. I like the image of the bugs as one long bug. Nice shot Livia.

[Natalie]

Smart shot! :D

[vorka]

Great detail and focus Livia, thats cool

[Humphrey Hippo]

Great choice of PoV - looks like he has a reflection. :)

[Shirley Chetwynd]

X marks the spot, , lovely capture Livia.

[beachradish]

looks like he's backed up against a mirror - very cool DOF to accomplish this w 2 bugs!

[Queenie]

Interesting bug! Very photogenic!

[Leana Niemand]

You did it again. Lovely focus.

[karenann]

Nice romantic scene going on here ... glad you gave them some dof for privacy!! Beautiful focus and love their markings. :)

[davide]

lovely macro!

[Tony]

Another in a long fantastic series of the most increadable maco captures. Fav

[❀ Lynn]

You do manage to catch your bugs in the most compromising positions! Wonderful capture. Love your story!

[Elizabeth Youngs]

Great focus and bokeh!

[Danielle Greenwood]

Just great!

[Gabrielle C]

He is one great lookin' bug! Of course he would find a mate :) Great capture !

[Not So Random Pics]

Of course he looks happy, it's Friday :) Your story is so entertaining, great details as always!

[stephanie dp]

you really have that focus so perfect, so sharp (just like your mind. . .:)))
what a strange looking bug, he's wearing his argyle.

[Marie]

Nice DOF!

[Catherine W.]

Ha! Great find! Love this sexy shot!

[Tanja Carda]

Nice find Livia, hope they didn't mind you watching =P
Great focus and composition too, another awesome macro shot!!!

[Cheyenne Rebecca ツ]

He looks scared...hehe! Nice find!!! Cool patterns!

[Vicki Dixon]

It is like a mirror...

[Livia]

@pyrrhula Yes, they are two cotton stainer bugs, and in the shot they are mating. (Rear ends together.) 8)

[jerry plume]

Wow! Your macro's rock, Livia! Love the markings on this little guy!

[Ellen Young]

Join the Club Livia!! This Just Fantastic and dont you dare stop taking these bug macro's !! Just when you think you have seen all the bugs you could possibly see ...Here pops up a new one!! :) We love your Crazy Love Bugs!!!

[Bobbyj]

I've always wondered why they are always in pairs, great shot Livia!

[KKiyo]

*Sexy whistle* Haha, great shot! Cool looking bug!!!

[Jolly]

This is precious! Never seen even a pic of this before! It's amazing, the things you find Livia !

[CHARLES MALLIA]

nice and clear shot

[Sunil Chummar]

This is fantastic,excellent focus,well done.

[alia_801]

Great capture :)

[Carole Imes]

I checked out the photo from before to refresh my memory. How amazing you were to find one again with a mate. Glad you told me, I would have thought it was one long bug ;-) They are so unusual and yes, he does look happy ;-0 Great focus!

[Dione Giorgio]

Amazing capture, Livia.

[Mel]

lol, he does have a happy face :) lovely focus and a beautifully romantic shot :)

[Chris]

Amazing!

[Dianne]

Great capture...I thought there was only one till I read your info..

[Myrna O'Hara]

Now that is a great bug shot. So interesting, love the design on the back.

[summerfield]

oy!

[Joyce Wells]

Great design on its back. Am enjoying your macro series!

[Peter de Graaff]

Looks like his publicist or clothes designer had an art deco look in mind it's back

[trude]

your commentary really does bring a smile to my face:) Amazing macro as always, but really love the soft bokeh too:)

[Leslie]

LOL - another great shot - The patterns nature blesses us with are amazing!

[samantha]

Who said romance is dead?! =) great macro love the markings on their backs!

[Pam Hawkes]

Great macro and bokeh! Nice focus.

[Sue Kosa]

Great shot !!! FAV !!!

[Cindy Rez]

I am glad I read your lines cuz I thought this was one Bug :)

[mittens (Marilyn)]

LOL Love your title. Excellent shot, Livia.

[Charlene Barker]

Wow, you have quite an array of terrific bug shots.

[Lisa Wernsen]

wow, great!! I love the colors of the bug!

[Kathy A]

Love the pattern on his back.

[Darlene]

Kind of creepy but a great shot, Livia.

[Livia]

A great, big, X-marks-the-spot, kind of romantic and kind of exciting, happily lovey-dovey "THANK YOU!" to everyone for taking the time to visit! Mr and Mrs Bug were very cooperative about getting photographed. Thank you so much for being so supportive with your comments. I appreciate your encouragement very much. Again, thank you!

[Dana]

Fantastic macro.

[Chris]

And all is well in the insect world... wonderful macro as usual!

[bruni]

This one looks so much longer in his torso than he one you posted in May. Oh my goodness when I read some comments I finally realized it were two of them..is this an odd mating picture?????????

[Livia]

@bruni This is the way they mate, it seems. 8)

[Kass]

Love his body and pattern - what a great insect!

[Matthew Ballew]

I don't get your amazing bug shots all the time. how do you do it?!?!

[Aleksandra]

How romantical, the bokeh is an excellent touch too!

[Linda Lorraine]

He looks happy to me!

[Leila]

Neat find, love the focus & DOF, makes it slightly more discreet.

[Julie Ryan]

cool designs on their backs!