HodgePodge Images: MES Winter Workshop: Discovering the Magic of Flower Flies
I’ve always had a soft spot for underdogs—maybe because I’ve often felt like one myself. It’s probably why I love photographing the tiny, easily overlooked things in the world. About six years ago, I started spending time with the Maine Entomological Society . I tell people, “They find the bugs, I shoot them,” though these days I’m finding my fair share too. Every winter, MES holds a workshop featuring presentations around a particular theme. They’re usually in Augusta, which is a bit of a drive for me, so I haven’t always been eager to attend. Last year’s topic was mosquitoes… not exactly inspiring. But this year? Flower flies—also known as hover flies. If you’ve seen my insect photography, you know hover flies are some of my favorites. The first presenter for 2026 was Dr. Jeff Skevington, one of the leading experts on flower flies, from Carleton University in Ontario . He co‑authored FieldGuide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America back in 2017, and as a self‑procla...