← previous day

Flight Squadron

Posted by Dornbrau (Colorado Springs, United States) on 5 April 2007 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

I can think of a million things wrong with this picture... the subject is too small, no focal point, too spread out, bad lighting and contrast, too grainy. I considered cropping it but I lost the only element that made this image work for me... the sheer number of mosquitoes that surrounded me as I walked by the ponds. Focusing on such a tiny creature in flight was impossible so I just pointed at the thickest part of the swarm and shot a single picture. I was heavily coated with repellant which seemed to act as an attractant to them and they escorted me during my entire trip. Thankfully I didn't sustain a single bite although I did experience the misfortune of inhaling a couple of the bugs into my nostrils. Even looking at the picture, many months later, I still shudder at the memory. And yet... there is something oddly hypnotic about the almost alien shape of the insects in flight.

Its almost mosquito and tick season again. Do you have your DEET?

* Cattail Marsh Regional Trail, Fountain Colorado
next day →

NIKON D70
1/1600 second
F/13.0
450 mm

mosquito