Beetle a wonder of nature in super picture

The month of May brought with it a splash of colour and a touch of nature’s wonder for the Forest Lake Photography Club, as the prestigious Heritage Bank Slideshow Award was snapped up by none other than Hazel Sempf.
Her winning shot? A truly stunning close-up of a Harlequin beetle lovingly guarding her eggs – a scene straight out of nature’s most delicate drama.
Hazel shared the story behind the shot, and it’s clear this wasn’t a happy accident. “I knew these beetles hatch their eggs around this time of year,” she explained, “and they love to hang out on hibiscus bushes.” So off she went to the Mount Coot-tha Gardens, armed with her trusty Panasonic Lumix G85, an Olympus 60mm macro lens, a Meike flash unit and a KR Diffuser.
She set her camera to 1/320, F13, ISO 200, flash at quarter power – and waited for magic to happen. And happen it did.
There, in all her glory, sat a female Harlequin beetle with her precious eggs, seemingly posing just for Hazel.
Macro photography, Hazel says, is one of her greatest joys.
“It’s the fine details that get me – the patterns, the textures, the things you don’t notice until you zoom right in. That’s what made me pick up a camera in the first place.”
The Heritage Bank Slideshow Award is a monthly favourite in the club. Members submit their best shots for a digital showcase, and then everyone votes for their top three.
Winning isn’t just about bragging rights, though – Hazel will soon have her beetle masterpiece printed A3+ size on the club’s high-quality printer. Members can also use it for their own prints – just pay for the paper or canvas, and you’re in business.
The club itself is as welcoming as a warm cup of tea on a winter morning. They meet every second Tuesday of the month at 7.15pm in the Forest Lake Community Hall.
Visitors are always greeted with a smile, so whether you’re an experienced shutterbug or still figuring out which button takes the picture, you’ll fit right in.
So, here’s to Hazel, the Harlequin beetle, and another month of capturing life’s tiny treasures.
Go to forestlakephotographyclub.com or Instagram at instagram.com/forest.lake.photography.club.