Have you ever had that experience where you are just out in nature, and you have no particular destination in mind, and then suddenly you find something so amazing that you get totally absorbed in it? That's what happened to me yesterday, on a long summer day with the sun burning straight down from the sky, and the world feels like it is holding its breath. It was midday, the air was shimmering, and it was completely silent. I was just walking along, my eyes taking me over the fields and meadows, not really looking for anything in particular at all. But that's often when you can find the most amazing things, right?
And then I spotted it. Though not yet in all of its wonder, there was something that caught my eye. In one spot, maybe one or two square meters, it was full of life. Insects were congregating on the plants everywhere. Thistles and wildflowers stoically pushing through the heat of the midday sun, their purple flower heads proud, flanked by other colourful wildflowers. I pulled out my camera, and was drawn to the sheer density of small creatures gathering there. There was a little sound of buzzing and humming, but it felt more like some kind of quiet gathering - a peaceful meeting for small insects, in the baking sun.
I took countless pictures and kept re-focusing, trying to capture the fine detail in the wings and antennae. What I didn't realize, at the time, and only later, when I checked the pictures on my computer back at home, did I fully recognize, was that it wasn't just a "small group" sitting peacefully there. There was a real buzz! There was coming and going, a veritable ballet of wings. "Flight activity," as I call it, could be heard everywhere. Insects going from flower to flower, other insects zigzagging as they flew past, looking for nectar. A really cool dynamic that I had only recognized later, through the photographs.
It was like a small, hidden world was revealed to me in these few square meters. I was especially inspired by the checkered butterflies (Melanargia galathea), which glided so delicately over the blossoms, with their striking black and white wings. In some of the pictures, you can even see them sharing the blossoms, sometimes with others butterflies or even little beetles. It's incredible how much life can happen, in a small space, if you're really observing, and want to engage.
Today I have a larger, but I'm aware still limited, set of photos for you. You can see I initially attempted to photograph and to capture the beauty of each individual insect. However, in continuing through the images, you'll see how the "flight activity" became increasingly present. Sometimes it was just a wing in the background with the subject in focus, sometimes the subject was taking off or occasionally about to land. It was this transition from single silent portraits to an animated scene that I found particularly compelling. I tried to document the movements and interactions and trespassing through, yet the balance of this small ecosystem.
This experience reminded me again of the importance of walking and mindfully experiencing nature and the little things. Many times the least conspicuous places provide the biggest surprises. This was a fascinating counterpoint to the otherwise idle midday heat and reminded me that in stillness, life almost always pulses vibrantly.
I hope my photos brought you some joy. Thanks for making it this far, despite the sheer number of photos.🙃✌️
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Another amazing photography work coming from you @forestbound friend!
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