I went down to the local country park/reservoir today with storm clouds a-brewing and a frigid blustery wind.
I didn’t realise how cold and blowy it really was until I stood on the water’s edge and watched the gulls flying backwards. (If you’ve ever seen it, you’ll know what I mean). So I held out little hope of finding any critters that would also be daft enough to be out in the elements with me. But as it turned out, with a little bit of rock-turning and ingenuity, I found one or two – including this Crane Fly or, as we British fondly refer to it, the Daddy Long Legs (not to be confused with the spider with the same nickname).
When I was a child, we’d often get these in our house. They would whirr around the room in the most ungainly fashion and bump into everything and anything. Even back then, I’d sometimes wonder what the point of this clumsy creature was. And then today, I got up close and personal with the macro lens, and, by gum! It’s not the prettiest thing to gaze upon! I’ve added a couple of closer close-ups for you to see what I mean.
But they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder …. and somewhere out there is a Mummy Long Legs who loves him just the way he is 🙂
© Alice through the Macro Lens [2012]
Alice through the Macro Lens 
What WAS he doing out and about anyway.. way too early in the year!
You think that’s unusual? Today, I also got pictures of bluebells!
no he is not pretty but great shots of him.
He’s probably a stud among hisb own species!
Insects are so weird…from our point of view, they’re put together sideways.
Hmmmm …. I wonder if they think the same about humans … 🙂
Probably – or more likely, we’re so big they can’t even take us in! Maybe they need micro lenses to appreciate us.
Great pics of a rather unattractive bug but hey, as you say, someone loves him and probably thinks he’s a stud… 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Hey, if he can find a mate, I’m darn sure I should be able to!
We both probably could if our standards were as low as his… 😉
we have those here too but don’t usually see them till the hot days of July.
I don’t think he’s supposed to up and about yet either – but our weather’s been quite unpredictable lately, and I think Nature’s a bit confused!
Great macro shot! Wish I can also shoot an insect so close 🙂
You can! Honestly – if I can, anyone can!
Great pictures
Crane flies have been numerous and persistent this spring in Austin (Texas), and we had one in the house just last night. People sometimes think they’re huge mosquitoes, but they’re harmless. It’s good that you were able to photograph the head so closely.
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
“Good” is such a relative word. I’ve always known they were harmless, because I tend to catch them and put them outside when they get caught in the house – I just didn’t realise they were so darned unattractive!
By the look of his head, one wonders what he did to deserve this…