A damselfly that tells fortunes…?
I think this might be a small weevil(?) of some sort, managing to hang on to the underside of a leaf with the weight of all that water.
We have had a fair share of grey and rain around here. The earth is well watered, and you could disappear in the tall green grasses. It is easy to gripe about the greyness of it all, but when the sun returns you are reminded that each drop is a transient gem.
© Karen McRae, 2013
draw and shoot 
…so many stories in the micro world… a pleasure to see…
Thank you, Kari. The micro world is a busy place…
(…smiling…)
Okay, WOW! 😉 Each image is so beautiful but I could especially stare at #6 all day.
Thanks very much, Cynthia!
Karen – another set of stunning images!
Melinda
Thank you, Melinda. Chasing leftover raindrops….
Super Images .I love them. Thanks for sharing ,Karen.
Much thanks, Hanno. : )
Karen, these are absolutely sumptuous images. Thanks, yet again, for sharing all this beauty.
I’m glad you like them, thank you!
Oh, these are wonderful, Karen!
Thank you, Anette. We are luck to live in a wonderful world.
Bring on the rain, if this is what you capture because of it.
Hi Graham, thank you. Equal parts sunshine in nice too!
This is beautiful!! And to think my last blog post was to complain about the rain and greyness. haha
Ah, we all complain about the rain sometimes! Thanks for your comment, Laura.
The bugs are back! It must be warming up. Love the way the world breaks into heavy chunks of prism close-up. Beautiful.
It’s not too bad, here. A mix of sun and rain! Last year this time was so hot and dry by comparison, I don’t mind the weather now actually.
Thanks, Anna.
Wao !
Incredible and in the same time, Beautiful photos.
(Can’t have any more word = I shut my mouth up)
Thanks, Yoshizen! : )
Marvelous micro environs and residents. Magically presented, as always Karen:)
The tiny world is pretty fun to explore… Thank you, Elena! : )
Stunning images Karen.
Thank you!
Oh man, such cool photos. I need a macro lens!
Oh yes, a macro lens is so much fun! Thanks for your comment Francine.
Very cool photographs Karen!
Thanks, Allen!
Fantastic Karen! Very well done!
Much appreciated, Phil, thank you!
what a magical view. lovely.
Thanks very much, Meredith. : )
Unreal! I’ve never seen such beautiful macro photography. It’s something else!
Oh gosh thanks. Seb. I’m glad you think so!
Beautiful colors, delightful to the eye, especially here in the West right now. I love the orbs of the damselfly holding the green orb. Water in any shape or form can be so beautiful. Thanks, Karen.
Isn’t that amazing how the damselfly was ‘holding’ the waterdrop!
I was pretty thrilled when he moved into that position.
Thanks very much, Judy.
There should be a ‘like’ button and a ‘love it’ button! There would certainly be a few of the latter for this post – striking colours and subject. The light dazzles are great and add real depth.
Hey thanks, Matt! A fortunate combination of light water drops and insects. : )
Karen, These are magnificent. The first image is such a surprise — captivating along with your apt description. Thank you for this lovely post.
Hi Jane, I was pretty amazed when I noticed the damselfly was ‘holding’ a drop of water. I’m glad you like them, thank you!
AH, Karen… this is the celebration of green and not only!!!!
Exquisite shots!!!
🙂
Thank you, Marina. The lushness of water and growth, I guess.
Exquisitely beautiful Karen. As a friend of mine has just commented, you’re in a league of your own! 🙂
Adrian, that’s very kind. I think I just get lucky sometimes and things come together nicely. Thanks so much for your encouragement. : )
Karen, you are always reminding us of the gems, whatever the season and always with the most spectacular surprises!
Nature is endlessly surprising, isn’t it? So many tiny details to be seen. Thanks for your comment, Patti.
Great series.
. . . we could use rain right now . . .
Lest spring and summer we were in low level drought – the rainy spring is a relief in a way, although I’m not sure everyone would agree.
Thanks for your comment, Emilio.
Beautiful photos! This was a real treat. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, such a lovely comment. thank you, Susan.
Love the drama in all of these. They are such good captures of struggle and transition – it really heightens the sense of beauty.
Thank you, Richard. Yes, those little insects really do work very hard! I was impressed by that weevil just hanging on to the little threads of the leaf like that. Amazing.
You see beautiful minutiae in a unique and wonderful way. What a nice reprieve in the middle of my otherwise busy day… to stop and consider what small creatures are doing and struggling with. Thank you!
I’m happy you enjoyed this little creatures hard at work. Thank you! : )
It is definitely my pleasure. 🙂
Very fine photo’s; and great title.
Thanks very much, Harrie. I’m happy you noticed the title.
Excellent pictures.
Much thanks, Rabirius.
These are just so beautiful Karen. I could look at them over and over. And I like the symbolism of dragonflies = strength 🙂 Very well done.
H Marina,
Yay, I’m happy you like them so much. Insects in general seem to have amazing strength (and ability) for their tiny size.
Thank you!
damselfly… dragonfly – how are they different? Sorry! Just looking at the post again and noticed the “damselfly” in your sentence.
Dragonflies have chunkier bodies; when at rest, they hold their wings out like those of an airplane. Damselflies have slenderer bodies; when at rest, they keep their wings folded above and parallel to their bodies.
You transfixed me. I could look at those ant ones for ages, but they’re all so gorgeous. I’m amazed at the amount of colour and detail you and your camera can capture! Really beautiful.
Thank you, Trish. Transfixed – I like that!
I particularly like the dreamy ant photographs – amazing work!
Thanks very much, Tom!
The world through your lens is an absolute delight…. thank you for inspiring us 🙂
Ah, thanks so much, Liz.
They are so beautiful. Magical, Karen.
Bente, thanks, I’m glad you like them.
absolutely beautiful !!!! did the damsel tell you what she saw in her cristal ball ?
Thanks, Gwennie. She didn’t tell me what she saw but she wasn’t a damsel in distress so I take that as a good sign! : )
You wrote: Each drop is a transient gem.
It’s those fleeting moments that make life valuable.
Yes, those moments that are gems, valuable indeed.
I hope things are going well for you, Marcelo.
Oh my, so new, so fresh, so you. This set made my day, Karen.
Much thanks for that comment, Alessandro. You put a smile on my face. : )
An exquisite series! I adore the luminous green you captured in the first five. I admire your work greatly, but words are becoming inadequate to describe how stunning your photographs are. All I can do is look and look and look . . . . .
Hi Patricia, such a lovely comment. I’m happy you find my work so compelling, sincere thanks!
stunning!
Thank you, Russ!
Wow, Karen. Stunning, magical images. I’m completely drawn in to each one. I have a soft spot for tiny beings like the ones you’ve captured here. Such lovely color and light. Really wonderful!
Hi Melanie, yes those tiny beings are endlessly intriguing.
Thanks for your your nice comments.
OMG! this is stunning! LOVE your work!
Thanks very much!
Great shots. I love such macros. And your header photo is utterly beautiful! Have a nice day. 🙂
Thanks very much!
If you like jellyfish you can see more here:
https://drawandshoot.me/2012/06/01/sea-jellies/
So luminous and full of life. Beautiful and uplifting. Thank you Karen!
Thank you, Dominique!
magic.. that very special Karen magic.. does my heart good..
Much thanks, Helen. : )
Just love those colours and bokeh to die for….. and again, that tantalizing focussing. Great series Karen.
Hi David, thank you, I appreciate your lovely comment.
Exquisite photos, Karen. They take my breath away.
Such a nice thing to hear, Simon. Thank you!
These were not done with just a camera – you must be in league with the earth gods. Can’t imagine how else you could have captured 1,3,5 – especially 3, the weevil. And that green – must have come from same earth gods. And I could cover my house with 2.
Ah thank you, Michael. The earth gods? Maybe…
Your comments are lovely.
Beautiful photos Karen!!!! Great use of DoF! 🙂 **
Thank you, Xandre!
Stunning pix! really loved them
I’m glad you do, thank you!
I think the dark insect with the drop hanging from it might be a planthopper or leafhopper rather than a weevil.
You might be right, it was in an awkward place to get a full picture but it sort of appeared to have that odd weevil type ‘snout’.
I Love macro work – it’s like a whole new world!
Yes, it is another world up close, isn’t it?!
Amazing photos! Jane
Thanks very much, Jane.
Absolutely exquisite…definitely some of the best photos I have ever seen! Makes me wish I knew how to use a camera properly!!
Alex, thanks so very much for your comment, wow! : )
Absolutely fascinating and portrayed in such a luminous fashion. This is like space-age modern-art applied to nature. How beautifully and tenderly shown.
Thank you, Steven. Space-age – I hadn’t considered that but I know what you mean, I think.
Fantastic!!!!!
Pedro.
Thanks for all those exclamation marks, Pedro! : )
Thanks
Beautiful!!
Thank you.
Such beauty and simpicity. Thank you for sharing these amazing images.
I’m happy you enjoy them, Lydiya. Thanks for your comment.
These are glorious Karen! So jewel-like and full of light.
Thanks, Anna. Rain jewels – at their best when the sun comes out…
minimalism at its best, wonderful shots, Karen!
Much thanks for you comment, Jesus.
Absolutely lovely, I love them all Karen!! 😀
Thank you, Sophie! : )
“nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands” — e.e. cummings
That is from a beautiful poem, Steve. Thank you.
95 comments ahead of me, I wonder if you’ll ever… oh heck: Karen, these photos are ridiculously beautiful! I’m spellbound, lighthearted, and awed, awed like I was inside The Secret Garden… You are such a talent! Thanks for the escape, Karen.
You wonder if I’ll ever respond? : )
I’ll start here and work backwards…
Thanks sincerely for your most lovely comment, Anette.
I really love the colors and the short depth of field in your images!
I loved each and every photo. The bird hanging upside down truly broadcasts the title of your post. I felt I had become so tiny. 🙂
(Not bird – insect*)
Lovely captures!
I absolutely LOVE the vertically-oriented ant-and-flower photo. The delicacy of the pinks and greens, and the fluctuating focus imbue it with a sense of magic for me.
J’adore. Bravo!
Wow – what great macros – the colours and light are wonderful. The first one is terrific, love the exposure, and the caption too:)
these close up shots are so great and interesting.