Ladybird Cavern

WOW! Only see the odd one in my garden…what a find. Lovely macro.

what a find

damn great work man well done

Wonderful capture!! I guess you can make many wishes!!

How very wonderful
J

This is excellent- you don’t see this oftern.

Wonderful capture! I have never seen so many of them together like that. Ladybugs are the gardener’s friend and from what I understand a lucky symbol as well…

Fantastic image Stephen! :-)

Outstanding capture!

Wow!

What a fabulous capture.

you are sooooooo lucky, L O V E this!

How amazing – great shot!

Gorgeous work, great find! You have pretty beautiful pics in your portfolio! :)

oh wow, amazing

fab pic, love the effect

great pic … ive often wondered where they winter themselves … thanks for sharing this one

what a super shot – bright and clear and never seen so many at once…!

This is fantastic! Aside from the pure wonder of it, I love the voyeuristic aspect to it.

oh my goodness, this amazes me, I also have never seen so many in one place at the same time, I had to show my 8yo daughter this photo and she just said whooooooaaaa – she is also a budding photographer and is always taking shots of ladybugs, so this one is a fave for her and I, brilliant capture :0)

Unbelievable, this is great

Sure is! (An amazing act of nature). Thanks for capturing it and bringing it to our attention.

Such a cool picture – very unique and the DOF works wonderfully.

Thanks everyone, I really love this place and intend to visit many more times!

nice composition, and great colours, well done

Wow!

great photo, super colour

i love ladybeetles – there is something magic about them!! :D

wow…. never seen ladybirds in a crowded space like this before! nice capture – DOF is right on point and makes it all the more dramatic

Fantastic capture, very hard to photograph like that. well done.
did you know that the males have thicker and less black spots than the females. i only know because i have a spot in my heater flue that they tend to keep coming back to, to hybanate. unfortunately they do this in winter, when we have the fire on, some days i can have 20-30 ladybugs around the lounge, and a few who have not made it off the top of the fire box.

One of the most unusual and unique macro shots I have had the pleasure of viewing. Wonderfully shot! I hope this means many years of luck coming your way!

Lucky You, not only to have taken such a wonderful shot, but to be able to see them in such a large amount! Thanks for sharing this with us!

wow wow wow

Great shot Steve. A one in a million hey!

Mick.

omg! that is amazing! you’re so lucky!

What a find..
And what an astounding image! :)

Incredible image of a great find..a lady bird nursery? Fantastic..work.

almost nightmarish – but when you think about it they are harmless – brilliant

Just gorgeous, what a fantastic find Stephen!
Amazing image and love the light reflecting off those cute little bugs! :)

a wonderful sight of nature there – and a wonderful capture of it with all the attendant colour and detail.

it has all been said – and i agree with it all

Yes, it is an amazing find! Great capture!

This is pretty unique!!! Nice shot of these lovely little lady bugs!!!

great picture! My only problem with these guys is that they have a secret place in our house. Our bedroom. Which means I spend most of the winter concienciously “rehoming” the stragglers that fly around the room every time we turn a light on!

Thanks to evreyone, truly amazing support and comments!

Wow that is just awsome!!! Great work :)

You are lucky well done.

You are lucky well done.

This is beautiful, never seen it before!

outstanding! fantastic detail!

what a fantastic photo. well done

Great photo !

These shots are just stunning! You lucky guy. I wish that I had a secret place. he, he.

What a gorgeous discovery! Such a lovely shot.

Really beautiful shot of these ladybugs…Beautiful.

How beautiful!

What an extraordinary thing! And how lucky are YOU! and i thought i had a great ladybeetle shot! Hats off to you

You said…you are so very lucky!! What a cool shot! I love ladybugs!

Wow, that is amazing, you are very privelleged!

beautiful work… all of it

great image, where did you find this little place!

This is such an awesome photo. Magic spot and amazing creatures. Thanks for showing us this place we wouldnt otherwise get to see!

Gorgeous… you are so lucky to have your secret spot!!

this is totally amazing

Very interesting photo of these lady bugs.

wow, amazing… jelous.   :-)

Gosh, this is so amazing.

Truly amazing photo. You have a great eye for nature – I enjoyed looking through your work.

Amazing image steve

Wow, amazing shot and find :)

My kind of picture!!!! Love it!!!

All I can think of is “Oh God!”
This is just the most amazing image! Not just the subject, which is beautiful and fascinating, but the way you have captured it, the lighting and the dark vignette….
just perfect!

What an outstanding image – fantastic!

What an outstanding image – fantastic!

Superb image

wow

gorgeous shot, like a cavern of secret jewels!

Oh my! What a wonderful shot. I really like the depth of field with the little bit of fuzziness at the sides.

What a great job you did on this capture..

I’ve never seen anything like this before – fantastic shot!

wow, amazing!
So orange!

glad you shared your secret place with us. incredible cluster of these small creatures. a very intense macro shot. i love the vertical vignette. well seen and captured.

Oh wow! I never seen so many ladybugs! Great Shot

love the perspective, the dof in this shot. The entire image is so interesting, not simply because of the subject matter, but the manner in which you captured it. Cheers, S.

I love them tooooooo.

so beautiful! didn’t know ladybugs had caverns… wonderful nature, well documented.

Amazing, lovely lighting

Well, there goes the contest! :)

wow! I am impressed!! I guess I won’t need to enter my art – you are the winner in my book! ofcoarse I haven’t even looked at any of the other entries yet :)

Stunning photo. Beautiful.

What an amazing image!!!!! HAH!!! i’ve seen ladybugs (heaven knows, they LOVE my laundry room for a week or so every year, who knows why?? LOL!) But they’ve never done anything as beautiful as THIS for me!!!! WOWZER!! I LOVE it!!! Best of luck in the comp!!!!!! Regards, Lois

What a wonderful find ~ great image!!

What a find! Amazing images of these you have, you really are a gifted photographer x

I love the strong colours in all your Artwork, this one especially stands out to me. Lovely capture and moment.

How amazing to see so many ladybirds congregated in one space like this. I get giddy if I can find just one and take a picture before it flies away. Lovely image!

Wow this is amazing! lovely find and capture

You sure are lucky, what a wonderful sight to see

I lve everything about this but the saturated colors on the right. I would buy it otherwise! Well done!

Amazing image Steve, have always loved it!

Beautiful, love it :)

wow! This is amazing, what a neat spot you’ve found! I think you take amazing photographs! I will definitely be watching you! Thanks for sharing and keep up the awesome work!!

Just stunning…...!!!!!!!!

Wow! I’m at a loss for words…incredible!!! :-)

AMAZING and so very very impressive the way you took this photograph

what a find, and lady beetles are for good luck too, wow you hit the jackpot
xkc

i dnt think i’ve ever seen more than 2 of them in the one place, and you found 30 in a small gap. Great capture, really unique!

gives you that itchy feeling

exceptional image!!! Well done!

I’ve often wondered where they all were hiding and why we didn’t have many…. they’re all in Millicent having parties!! Incredible and beautiful photo :D

wow! incredible capture
you are very lucky!

very cool image…all those ladybugs just congrating.

what a outstanding image….. great shot…...one of my favs

You’re just an entomological voyeur!!!
What a sight!
Great image!

interesting picture ! I like the point of view

so not fair … i want this secret place too ! ... beautiful shots .. >> Gina

Magnifique! please sent to MacroPhotography group ;)

Great shot!! Awesome!!

What a truly wonderful discovery! I am happy that you share their secret…Great image!!

oh my this is an amazing shot and find

How lucky you are to have found this place. Lady bugs are so magical! Beautiful shot!

You are right, how fortunate you are!
Stunning capture!

fantastic shot! i adore ladybirds… though sometimes they come to my place to breed, and i end up so i cant go outside without stepping on them as they arrive in the thousands!!!! then i find them a bit creepy ha ha

Your secret place is wonderful. So interesting. Nature is amazing. Well done!

Well seen and captured!

wow !! amazing capture ~ lovely

Wow, this is an amazing capture

My total favourite from your gallery Steve!

Wow…..i’m speechless

My goodness – absolutely INCREDIBLE! ive never seen anything like it!!!!

Totally intriguing

Amazingly unique and wonderfully whimsical…............

Unbelievably unbelievable!!!! :D

What a blessing to know the secret business of the Ladybird world :) Fabulous photo!

Amazing…

Beautiful! and insightful!

WOW…awesome capture!!!!

There is an animal art/photography contest at http://1stangel.co.uk/contests which this would be perfect as an entry :)

This is awesome …Great work :o)

Awesome work!

This is an amazing capture Steve :)

You never know when you find a stunning picture…Love this. – Dennis

This is amazing!

Sweet!! I have looked at several of your pieces and you are completely amazing…giving me something more to aspire too. I truly admire you!

Wow this is so amazing a cool, great photo.

WOW, how lucky are you !!!!

wow!! in thousands?? i think i’ve seen 3 in my lifetime.. ^, this is a gorgeous shot!!.. never seen anything like this..=)

This is simply amazing! Actually, there isn’t a word to describe it. This is so beautiful and I adore it! Definately one of my favourites

what a find… amazing!!!!

Love this photo…..but hate when they come in my house!

Well, someone’s spoilt! Great capture!

Lucky indeed.. I have never seen anything like this in my life, FANTASTIC!!

Great shot as well

Incredible shot! A priviledge to see this!

Heard the bad news that the council have gone and sprayed the nests of these beautiful and very important friends of our enviroment.
says a lot for our priorities in this ever dying world of ours.
sad news.
Makes the images you have of them even more valuable.
I was so looking forward to a day trip with you to see them.

cheers

ralph

That’s awful. Very sad to hear.

I luv ladybirds – reminds me of when I was little… I always liked dressing up as one, with little wings..

Pretty.

Creepy.

Wow! this is amazing!

Absolutely and utterly amazing! You are lucky to have captured such a natural marvel.

This is great Steve. Very unusual!

Awesome capture mate, instant favourite.

Fantastic image!

What a great find. Well done. I love the way you have captured this.

Had to comment on this one again Steve, knowing now that they are gone. Such a wonderful image, this really is one of my all time fave pics on RB. It so looks like a secret cave, and the lady bugs look so vibrant and shiny within it. Awesome.

Well your completely brilliant!

fantastic macro!!!!!

What a fantastic shot Steve! I’ve never seen anything like it…..& such a tragedy to discover that this little world has been destroyed!!!! That’s devastating!
An instant fave!

great, unique image – I think it is great that you have a secret place to spy on them—dave

Amazing!

Fascinating shot. Wonderful dof here. very unique.

How amazing is this – no wonder everyone else thinks so too!!

If I found this place I’ld keep it a secret too. What a fun find. Neat shot.

WOW! Amazing shot!

Never seen anything like it, brilliant capture of a wonderful thing.

Pete AKA Digital Illusion

Wowee not suprising that I had to do a lot of scrolling for this picture. First of all lucky you for finding such a special secret place but lucky for us that you are sharing this amazing picture with us.

wow this rocks

Like everyone else, I’ve never seen this many ladybirds together! Great shot. Love the composition.

Oh…
One is just a miracle..
seen as thousands..what creatures..!!!
Someone says that they smeel of ground.. of soil..
I have never smelled them… but love their tickling steps on my fingertips…
Wonderful picture!!!
Rosa

Really something Steve. Very unique and well done.

great capture.

oh what a shot! gorgeous, never seen so many lady bugs all in the one place! magic!

HOW AMAZEING

Two or three at a time is all I ever see great find and terrific capture!!!!

This is amazing.

Cool

Amazing image, Steve! Unique capture.

wow.that’s one big ladybugs picnic!

fab!

wow!

Wow – just a wonderful capture! Keep up the great work!

hehehe they are cute ^ ^v

That’s amazing!

wow!! This is just wonderful!!
Is it true ‘bout the council?
If so , I’m soo sorry

Wow .. what an amazing sight. Nice shot.

incredible!

This is brilliant and such a fresh and unique approach to something I have seen photographed many times before, I love this!

It really seems like a magical moment. Thank you for capturing it and sharing with us.

So intriguing Steve. What a wonderful image!!

WOW! what a wonderful shot…

i see you are used to getting great reactions to your photos
and with good reason
this is just sensational

Amazing capture! Love the colors too! :)

what a glorious sight, and wonderful capture, so lucky to have so many in one place. hugsxxx

wow – I love this photograph…secret nature, but also looked kind of abstract. Beautiful! :)

Perfect shot!
i love this

This is an absolutely incredible image…the colour & composition really make it pop, but also just for the fact that you’ve found a cavern of Ladybugs! I had no idea that they actually aren’t solitary creatures…amazing..and amazing capture!

Great find and great capture!

This is stunning and extremely well taken…. great effort Steve.

great shot!! did you use any filters or photoshop it at all? (just new in photograpy, so trying to get tips from ppls in the know)

Lee, thanks for the visits and comments. This shot was particularly hard as the ladybirds were back in an unlit tunnel and the on camera flash and speedlight both shot outside the hole creating darkness. I ended up lighting the tunnel with a small torch and mirror and then used the macro as you see it. The colours around the image are left after just adjusting contrast. I have been asked a number of times to remove them with photoshop but have just left them as is.

Wow..what a fun image. I love it….cute little buggers…lol.

came across this :) really geat capture!

fabulous ;

how extraordinary! Well done for getting down and work ing out how to capture this for the enjoyment of so many!!

Great interesting image Steve!

outstanding,

A gorgeous peek into the world of these lustrous creatures – I love the colours too

Steve, I’m a major fan of your work and I’ve been behind in seeing work on redbubble but everytime I see your work, I have the same reaction to each shot:
“AMAZING!”
So I’m just going to copy and paste this comment on everything that I’ve missed. You are in a league of masters on here!
(this comment will only be copied on your work)

Oh wow, this is like heaven to me. I adore ladybirds, have never seen them more beautifully photographed as by you, and this shot stands out as my favourite. Just beautiful!

Thanks so much Trish really appreciated.