Macro picture of ladybug/ladybird (Coccinellidae) hunting plant lice

Insect, Macro, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge /

Macro picture of ladybug/ladybird (Coccinellidae) hunting plant lice
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera August 8th 2009. Click image for larger view.

I came across this ladybug (or ladybird as it is known in some parts of the world) (Coccinellidae) while I was out photographing. As I looked closer I noticed that the beetle was hunting some plant lice. The lice was feeding on a burdock plant so the plant was probably happy that this ladybug flew by. I have uploaded an extra large version of this picture so please click it to see a larger version where you can see more details.

We have 54 different species of ladybugs in Norway and I’m not completely certain what kind this is as I forgot to count the number of spots on its back. Many of the species feed on plant lice like the ones photographed here, and they are important to keep plant lice in check so their numbers do not get out of control.

Please check out my other insect pictures here.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm F3.5 Macro
Location: Fjellstrand in Nesodden, Akershus in southeast of Norway

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Photographing food in Oslo – test of Alex Sushi

Food, Oslo /

After moving to Oslo I have started testing restaurants and city, and I even started a website about this. You can visit the site at SpisiOslo.no, but be warned as everything is in Norwegian.

One of the best places I have tested is Alex Sushi. They are known as one of the best sushi restaurants outside Japan so I had to test it out.

We had to order a place at the sushi bar because Alex Sushi is very popular. Below you can see a picture when we are sitting in the bar enjoying sake and Japanese beer Kirin.

Kokk på Alex Sushi

As a starter I ordered some sea weed salad that tasted wonderful. The green salad also looks great.

Sjøgress salat Alex Sushi

This time at Alex I did not order a big main dish (the prices are pretty high). The main dish consisted of unagi (eel) and raw whale that is fried for a couple of seconds on each side. Both types of nigiri tasted great, but the whale was incredibly good! I also ordered some special Alex maki that also was great.

Alex Sushi

If you ever visit Oslo and have a big wallet I would really consider going to this place. I would go for one of their menus as their are supposed to be great.

Stay tuned for more photos of dishes from restaurants in Oslo.

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Picture of thunder clouds over Grünerløkka in Oslo – summer of 2012

City, Norway Norwegen Norge, Oslo /

Picture of thunder clouds over Grünerløkka in Oslo - summer of 2012
Taken with Olympus EPL-1 digital camera July 1st 2012. Click image for larger view.

The weather here in Oslo has not been the best this summer with rain showers after rain showers and some small gaps with lovely sunshine (then everyone runs out to the parks to enjoy a cold beer or two).
The other day I was walking in the city with my camera and these clouds were looming over us. I had to snap some pictures of the threatening clouds. Soon after this picture the sky erupted with heavy rains, and loud thunder and bright lightning.

This picture was taken in a part of Oslo called Grünerløkka. This borough is filled with cool shops, nice restaurants and plenty of hipsters. As you can see there are also some good looking, old buildings in Grünerløkka. If you ever visit Oslo you should definitely visit this part of town and as a bonus there are almost no tourists there!


Information about the pictures:
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 11 mm
ISO Speed 200
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 11-22mm F2.8-3.5
Location: St. Hanshaugen in Oslo, Norway

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Macro picture of Tephritis bardanae fly on a burdock plant

Fly, Insect, Macro, Norway Norwegen Norge /

Macro picture of Tephritis bardanae fly on a burdock plant
Taken with Olympus EPL-1 digital camera July 2nd 2011. Click image for larger view.

While walking in the outskirts of downtown I stumbled across this small fly on a burdock plant. After doing some research I have figured out that the fly most likely is called Tephritis bardanae. This fly is a part of the fruit fly family that consists of several thousand of species. This particular species is fond of the burdock plant, and as you can see in the picture the fly has landed on such a plant.
It looked like the fly was performing a dance on the plant to attract a partner, but that is pure speculation from my side.

If you take notice of your surroundings you will often find small beautiful things like this fly. Next time you are outside try to look around you and take notice of all the wonderful living beings in the nature, even in a large city 🙂

Please check out my other insect pictures here.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus EPL-1 digital camera
Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 42 mm
ISO Speed 200
Location: Bygdøy, Oslo

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Picture of midnight fishing in Nordmarka – Oslo

Fishing, Oslo /

Picture of midnight fishing in Nordmarka - Oslo
Taken with Olympus EPL-1 digital camera July 29th 2011. Click image for larger view.

Nordmarka outside Oslo is a great place for outdoor activities. Last year I went on an open-air camping trip during the summer and in this picture we were out fishing for trout around midnight. We did not catch much fish, but we had a wonderful time with great weather and even greater scenery. The few fish we actually caught was grilled over an open fire, some of the best tasting fish I have ever had!

It was actually a bit weird for me that the night was as dark as this, as I’m used to midnight-sun evenings when I lived in Northern Norway. See some of my favorite pictures of the midnight sun here.

Please see me other photo taken this winter from a skiing trip in Nordmarka.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus EPL-1 digital camera
Exposure 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 14 mm
ISO Speed 1600
Lens: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6
Location: Nordmarka in Oslo, Norway

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