? Violet Ground Beetle (Carabus violaceus) eating caterpillar
   

Actual size 40mm, Isle of Skye, UK

Canon300D with 100mm f2.8 macro lens. f/2.8, 1/100

This is a Ground Beetle of the Carabus genus, and is probably a violet ground beetle (despite being black). Most hunt aggressively like the specimen above. Photographing shiny black beetles is always very difficult as the flash washes out detail, but the alternative (as above) is to put up with a wide aperture and high ISO.  This results in a much better colour texture, but woeful depth of field.


© kennethgilpin@lookingcloser.net