Macro

Macro shots

Photo of roseroot (Rhodiola rosea) – natures own viagra

15 Comments / Flora, Flower, Macro, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge, Plant, Roseroot /

Photo of roseroot (Rhodiola rosea) - natures own viagra
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 9th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

Roseroot (Rosenrot in Norwegian) is a plant that lives in the colder climate areas like the Arctic and it’s growing throughout Norway. You can often find it growing straight out of cliff sides.

In the recent years there have been lots of fuss about the roseroot plant because it is said to have many medical qualities, but it has actually been used in folk medicine for over 3000 years.
Later studies has shown roseroot to be a great medical herb. The list of beneficial qualities is long!
Roseroot is known to improve memory, good against depression, stabilize blood pressure, reducing stress hormones, contains lots of antioxidants, stabilize cholesterol and blood sugar levels and probably much more.
There is also being done research to check its qualities against cancer.

I have to mention that roseroot is a libido booster for both woman and men so I guess you can call it natures own viagra! The herb is being sold in many health food stores here in Norway and I believe it’s pretty big business. Have you ever seen roseroot for sale?

Here you can see how it’s growing wild in the nature.
Photo of roseroot (Rhodiola rosea) - natures own viagra
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 9th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

Information about the pictures:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital single-lens reflex camera
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm F3.5 Macro
Location: Ånstad (Andørja), Troms in northern Norway

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Macro photo of common hawker dragonfly

16 Comments / Dragonfly, Insect, Macro, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge /

Was able to capture a dragonfly called Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea) when I was out walking in the forest. These insects are big (74 mm) and very camera shy so I had to try several times to get close enough.

It was very entertaining to observe them hunt in the air hunting moths. They have amazing flying capabilities!

First a close up photo of its “face”.
Macro photo of Common Hawker dragonfly
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 4th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

And here is a picture of the whole dragonfly.
Photo of Common Hawker dragonfly
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 4th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm F3.5 Macro
Location: Ånstadbotn (Andørja), Troms in northern Norway

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Macro photo of hoverfly on a poppy flower

9 Comments / Flower, flower fly, Hoverfly, Insect, Macro, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge, Summer /

Macro photo of hoverfly on a poppy flower
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on June 24th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

These hoverflies are so fascinating and beautiful. Their beauty doesn’t get hurt from sitting on a poppy flower.
The blue spots in the background are forget-me-not flowers.

Check out my other hoverfly picture here.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital single-lens reflex camera
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm F3.5 Macro
Location: Laupstad (Andørja), Troms in northern Norway

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Macro photo of a dance fly couple mating and eating a fly

15 Comments / Dance fly, Fly, Insect, Macro, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge, Summer /

This is a horror story from my garden! I was walking around enjoying the nice weather and then I noticed some weird looking large flies. After closer inspection it wasn’t just one fly, it was three! Two dance flies were mating and consuming a fly. So I had to document it with my camera and show it to you.
View the photos large to see more details of natures wonders.

Macro photo of hoverfly on dandelion flower
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on June 24th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

Macro photo of dance fly couple mating and eating a fly
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on June 24th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

Dance flies (Empididae) is a family of flies with over 3000 species. This is possibly Empis tesselata.
They are hunters that capture their prey with the sharp snout, as you can see on the pictures. The males swarm in small groups (thats how they got the name) and each male holds a fly. If a female should fly by, the males offer their prey to her. She chooses the best prey and mates with the male while sucking the fly dry.
Check out this picture of a sawfly eating an insect my other macro pictures here.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital single-lens reflex camera
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm F3.5 Macro
Location: Laupstad (Andørja), Troms in northern Norway

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Macro photo of hoverfly on dandelion flower

9 Comments / Flower, flower fly, Hoverfly, Insect, Macro, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge, Summer /

Macro photo of hoverfly on dandelion flower
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on June 21st, 2007. Click image for larger view.

This is a hoverfly (Syrphidae), also know as flower flies, that are feeding on a dandelion flower. I have been trying to figure out what kind of species it is and I believe it is a Leucozona lucorum. From the looks of the hoverfly it seems to be mimicking a bee.

Lately my photography have been concentrated on taking macro photos because there are so many insects buzzing around.
When I’m seen outside I’m usually on my knees hunting for new subjects to photograph. I have discovered several new insects that I have never seen before and have got to know the names of several insects.

I have been having some challenges with my macro lens. It is has a focal length of 35mm which means I have to get really, really close to the subject to get a nice close up. To get so close can be really hard with camera-shy insects like hoverflies or butterflies.
So here is my photography tip of the day: If you are buying a macro lens, buy one with long focal length if you want to take insect macros.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital single-lens reflex camera
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm F3.5 Macro
Location: Laupstad (Andørja), Troms in northern Norway

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