So Frustrated
By Maggs
@maggs224 (2320)
Alicante, Spain
October 1, 2015 9:10am CST
I love to take photographs, especially of insects. I find insects fascinating and taking macro type photographs of insects has opened up a new world to me.
One day I was out with my camera when I heard two cicadas close by. I stopped and listened intently. It was not long before I identified which tree the sound of the cicadas was coming from.
I hunted high and low for the cicadas but of course as soon as I got close to the tree they stopped making their noise.
Without the noise they make all I knew was that they were on the tree somewhere.
The cicada is a superb example of natural camouflage. I searched and searched, without success and had just decided to give it up as a bad job when I caught sight of one of them.
I took a few photographs of the cicada and spent another ten minutes looking for its elusive mate. Frustrated, I looked without success for the second one and sadly decided to call it a day.
I consoled myself with the fact that I had at least been able to take a few shots of one of the two cicadas.
Later that day I sat at my computer editing my photos. Much to my surprise I found that I had also inadvertently taken a photograph of the one that I thought I could not find.
Have you every been looking for something and even when it was right in front of you failed to see it?
8 people like this
9 responses
@Salamnda (476)
• United Kingdom
1 Oct 15
wow ... i havent seeing it until you mentioned it , i focused and yes ,,, its there ...
this is indeed a great experience and i really love it :)
i do macro photography sometimes , i even got the gear , and i know how hard to catch a good shot for insects ,,,
but havent experienced something like this in photography
but many times i keep looking for my car keys or my phone and its in my hand :)
it happen a lot :)
here is some of my photos
2 people like this
@maggs224 (2320)
• Alicante, Spain
2 Oct 15
@Rollo1 You would not believe how carefully I looked for that second one Anja. I must have looked directly at it numerous times, and that was part of the problem. I found the other one because I saw it side on, when you look at them flat to the tree they blend in so well as you can see from the photo.
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
2 Oct 15
frequently happens to me with mislaid tickets or items of clothing - love the insect photo here - macro-photos are really challenging
1 person likes this
@maggs224 (2320)
• Alicante, Spain
2 Oct 15
@arthurchappell I am so glad that you are enjoying everyone's photos I know I am.
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5955)
• Greece
7 Nov 15
We have cicadas here in Greece too, my husband is particularly fond of them, but I think they are ugly things. He is able to spot and even catch them, but then he grew up here so he knows their tricks and has a few of his own.
1 person likes this
@maggs224 (2320)
• Alicante, Spain
11 Nov 15
@41CombedaleRoad I must admit they are not the prettiest of critters and the noise they make is incredible for their size. Still in spite of all that I still love to photograph them when I can.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
2 Oct 15
great photo! yepperz, that'un in the front jest blends in the the bark remarkably so! yepperz, i do that quite oft. dang, i need to gimme one'f those macro lenses fer this camera. i snap many pics 'f the wee critters 'round here, but fear much is lost. big 
's fer yer query? i 'lost' my yukon a few weeks back...'twas right in front'f me. aint used to drivin' these days, much less it. too accustomed to my big ol' truck, 'f a totally diff'rent color, lol.
's fer yer query? i 'lost' my yukon a few weeks back...'twas right in front'f me. aint used to drivin' these days, much less it. too accustomed to my big ol' truck, 'f a totally diff'rent color, lol.1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
2 Oct 15
@maggs224 i feel ya! the hubs got a great giggle outta my losin' the dark blue yukon whilst lookin' fer my 3/4 ton crew cab light grey p.u. the latter i've driven since 2003...he was givin' me a hard time in fact 'til i reminded him he 'lost' the yukon once himself :)
1 person likes this
@maggs224 (2320)
• Alicante, Spain
2 Oct 15
@crazyhorseladycx My lot ( I mean my lot at home not this site lol..) can tell you what make a car is most of the time but me I still go by shape and colour and often get it wrong. When we first change cars I am often looking for the one before until I get use to the new one.
1 person likes this
@maggs224 (2320)
• Alicante, Spain
3 Oct 15
@crazyhorseladycx Since I am right so much of the time I don't mind them having their giggles at my expense, anything that keeps them happy lol....
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
1 Oct 15
That's good shot, I like photography too, I like to get bumblebees... 
1 person likes this
@maggs224 (2320)
• Alicante, Spain
2 Oct 15
@sueznewz2 I like bumble bees too. Have you got a favourite photo of a bumble bee?
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
2 Oct 15
@maggs224 ... this isn't my favourite... but it's one i took recently... Hope you like it....
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10148)
• United States
1 Oct 15
Holy moly, that's practically invisible! 
The cicadas we get around here are more colorful than that variety, so it's not quite as hard to spot them hanging on trees. They tend to be black and orange, and their wings have a bit of green on them where they meet the body.
When they molt after emerging from the ground, they're white with bright green accents, so they don't hide well on the plain fences and walls they prefer to shed their exoskeletons on. I can spot them across our yard from the window. 
The cicadas we get around here are more colorful than that variety, so it's not quite as hard to spot them hanging on trees. They tend to be black and orange, and their wings have a bit of green on them where they meet the body.
When they molt after emerging from the ground, they're white with bright green accents, so they don't hide well on the plain fences and walls they prefer to shed their exoskeletons on. I can spot them across our yard from the window. 1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23671)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
2 Oct 15
"The cicada is a superb example of natural camouflage" I feel the same way about the lizards here and I am fascinated by how they can hide in the open!
1 person likes this
@maggs224 (2320)
• Alicante, Spain
2 Oct 15
@GreatMartin I love the lizards too, if you do happen to catch sight of any lizards maybe you can try to get a couple of shots I would love to see some.
