What type of net do you use to sweep for bugs?
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Thanks for the insight into how you do this. I want to photograph more insects and other living things. i find that as soon as I move into the creatures field of vision, they are gone!

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Movement is the biggest challenge in photographing live bugs. Aquatic bugs are not as big a problem because they can’t escape beyond the small container of water that I photograph them in. Crawling bugs can be a challenge if they move fast, but with patience it’s usually possible to get a few good images. Flying insects are the most difficult. It’s not quite as big a problem if the photograph is taken while the insect is in its natural environment; e.g. if they are collecting nectar or doing other work. They are often not bothered too much by the camera. I’d like to do all my photos that way. Unfortunately, my mobility is getting worse with age and some other factors. I find it hard to get into the positions required for doing extreme macros with the insects in their natural setting. It’s much easier on my body to catch the insects and put them on a small folding table that I carry with me. I can then sit down and take the photos. One downside of this is that the insects are not distracted by their work and are more inclined to move around and try to escape. I put them on the table and cover them with a clear plastic container until they settle down. I lift it to take the photos. But they often escape before I get all the photos I’d like. Yesterday I caught a beautiful blue damselfly and put it on the table. When I lifted the container, it flew away before I got a single picture. If it weren’t for my mobility issues, I’d definitely take all my photos with the insects in their natural setting. But I figure the table solution is better than giving up on macros altogether. (reply...)

how do you get insects to stay still for photos?
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Flounder do this on purpose to Camouflage themselves all the time. When I used to SCUBA dive many years ago, this was very normal to see. Sometimes the Flounder is completely covered, except for the eyes. It might also be used to hide in wait for food to pass by. Whatever the reason, it works!
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Newfoundland damselfly species are listed in "Distribution of Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of Atlantic Provinces, Canada". Paul-Michael Bruelle,
Northeastern Naturalist Vol. 4, No. 2

Known damselfiles on Island of Newfoundland (from Page 74):

Lestidae congener
L disjunctus
L. unguiculatus

Nehalennia irene

Coenagrion interrogatum
C. resolutum

Enallagma boreale
E. civile
E. cyathigerum
E. ebrium

Ischnura posita
I. verticalis
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Did this flat fish try to camouflage itself by somehow getting those rocks on top of itself?  Is that intentional or an accident  I wonder? (reply...)

You do such amazing close-up photography of these little creatures!
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it is amazing what nature adapts to. I bed those fringes are useful, either in sensing something, or in drag reduction when the creature is moving
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Thanks Thomas. I think it's interesting how the feather-like fringe around its rear half deploys when it's swimming but stows away when it's still. Strange creature that spends most of its life upside down. (reply...)