Not a great shot I know..... but thought I'd share it anyway.
Was clearing some undergrowth in the garden & came across this Killer Wasp Nest...... except I didn't know it.
Before I realised what had happened, at least half a dozen had attacked the top of my head....... as I turned and ran headlong downhill, pulling them out of my hair, I stumbled on a root and plummetted into the base of a tree, twisting my ankle for good measure.
Gathering myself I ran for the house still tugging my attackers away from my scalp.
I reached the house & plunged my heads under the shower to get the last of them out.
I'm sitting here now with what seem like a hundred interconnecting golf ball size lumps on my head, although in reality is probably only half a dozen or so.
My head is throbbing , my neck has stiffened up from the poison, and my ankle is the size of a beachball.
Anyway, went back & found the nest, but couldn't get a clear shot...... so needed to do a bit of gardening to get a better shot.
Found that every time I cleared a little foliage, the wasps would all troop out to check for intruders. Sending out occasional sorties in my direction.
I was a little squeamish by this time..... so this is about the best shot I could get, given the circumstances.... but I think portrays a little of their menace.
Moral of the story..... nature photographers should wear tin hats..
Nikon D200 w/Nikkor VR 70-200mm F/2.8 G
2007/07/28 14:56:48
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
1/60 sec - F/2.8
Exposure Comp.: -0.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode: Front Curtain
Auto Flash Mode: Built-in TTL
Auto Flash Comp: -2.3 EV